Rehabilitation at Ranger - Monash Universityusers.monash.edu/~gmudd/files/2007-AusIMM-Uran-Conf-2007.pdf · GAC : AusIMM Uranium Conf 2007 : 15 May 2007 – Mirarr Views and Rehabilitation

www.mirarr.net

Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation

Dr Gavin M Mudd, Geoff Kyle, Howard D Smith Dr Gavin M Mudd, Geoff Kyle, Howard D Smith Monash University / Gundjeihmi Abor. Corp / AP Chem Pty LtdMonash University / Gundjeihmi Abor. Corp / AP Chem Pty Ltd

Mirarr Perspectives on Mining andMirarr Perspectives on Mining and

Rehabilitation at RangerRehabilitation at Ranger

15 May 200715 May 2007

AusIMM Uranium Conf 2007 : 15 May 2007 – Mirarr Views and Rehabilitation of Ranger / 2GAC : www.mirarr.net


Mirarr Views :Mirarr Views :

““There can be no compromise with the Aboriginal There can be no compromise with the Aboriginal position; either it is treated as conclusive or it is position; either it is treated as conclusive or it is set aside. We are a tribunal of white men and any set aside. We are a tribunal of white men and any attempt on our part to state what is a reasonable attempt on our part to state what is a reasonable accommodation of the various claims and interests accommodation of the various claims and interests can be regarded as white men's arrogance, or can be regarded as white men's arrogance, or paternalism. ... We have given careful attention to paternalism. ... We have given careful attention to all that has been put before us by them or on their all that has been put before us by them or on their behalf. In the end, we form the conclusion that their behalf. In the end, we form the conclusion that their opposition shall not be allowed to prevail.opposition shall not be allowed to prevail.””

Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry (1977) (pp. 9)Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry (1977) (pp. 9)

““In the end, we form the In the end, we form the conclusion that their conclusion that their opposition shall not be opposition shall not be allowed to prevail.allowed to prevail.””


Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

•• Aboriginal Aboriginal ‘‘World ViewWorld View’’•• Origins of Ranger Uranium MineOrigins of Ranger Uranium Mine

–– Land Rights v Uranium v Kakadu v Land Rights v Uranium v Kakadu v ……

•• Brief Historical Overture of RangerBrief Historical Overture of Ranger•• The Relevance of JabilukaThe Relevance of Jabiluka•• Finding Common Ground : Finding Common Ground : Ranger RehabRanger Rehab•• Current Status of Ranger (Mirarr/GAC View)Current Status of Ranger (Mirarr/GAC View)•• Towards a Shared PostTowards a Shared Post--Mining Landscape ?Mining Landscape ?•• Summary & ConclusionSummary & Conclusion


Who Are the MirarrWho Are the Mirarr--Gundjeihmi ?Gundjeihmi ?

•• The MirarrThe Mirarr--Gundjeihmi are the traditional Gundjeihmi are the traditional owners of country which includes the owners of country which includes the Ranger, Jabiluka, Jabiru township and Ranger, Jabiluka, Jabiru township and adjacent Kakadu National Parkadjacent Kakadu National Park

•• Their claim to this country is long and Their claim to this country is long and firmly established both by Bininj tradition firmly established both by Bininj tradition as well as as well as ‘‘whitewhite--fellafella’’ law (eg. land rights)law (eg. land rights)

•• Mirarr is the clan group while Gundjeihmi Mirarr is the clan group while Gundjeihmi is the language groupis the language group


Aboriginal Aboriginal ‘‘World ViewWorld View’’

•• Taking care of country is Taking care of country is a serious traditional a serious traditional responsibilityresponsibility

•• Involves maintenance, Involves maintenance, including seasonal including seasonal burning, protection of burning, protection of sacred and/or sacred and/or ““dangerousdangerous”” placesplaces

•• Country is integral to Country is integral to cultural identitycultural identity


Origins of Ranger Uranium MineOrigins of Ranger Uranium Mine

•• First indications of Ranger were Oct 1969 First indications of Ranger were Oct 1969 ……•• Major field work in 1970 proved a large, Major field work in 1970 proved a large,

viable uranium project : Jabiluka, viable uranium project : Jabiluka, Koongarra and Nabarlek later discoveredKoongarra and Nabarlek later discovered

•• This time also coincided with increasing This time also coincided with increasing public debate about land rights, nuclear public debate about land rights, nuclear issues (ie. uranium) and a proposed issues (ie. uranium) and a proposed national park in the same region national park in the same region ……

•• Strong government support for mining Strong government support for mining butbut ::–– Env Impact AssEnv Impact Ass’’t, Woodward & Ranger Inquiriest, Woodward & Ranger Inquiries


Brief Historical Overture of RangerBrief Historical Overture of Ranger

•• Throughout the 1970Throughout the 1970’’s, there was vociferous s, there was vociferous debate about Ranger :debate about Ranger :

–– Woodward Inquiry a Woodward Inquiry a ‘‘veto on miningveto on mining’’ was primal for land rightswas primal for land rights–– Whitlam Government bought 50% of Ranger, legal agreementsWhitlam Government bought 50% of Ranger, legal agreements–– Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry –– recognised persistent, recognised persistent,

clear Mirarr opposition but this was clear Mirarr opposition but this was ‘‘not allowed to prevailnot allowed to prevail’’

•• Ranger was given final legal approvals in Ranger was given final legal approvals in Jan. 1979, first production in Aug. 1981Jan. 1979, first production in Aug. 1981

•• Gagadju Association established (royalties)Gagadju Association established (royalties)•• Mirarr formed Gundjeihmi Abor Corp in 1995Mirarr formed Gundjeihmi Abor Corp in 1995


The Relevance of JabilukaThe Relevance of Jabiluka

•• Jabiluka is highly relevant to the debate about Jabiluka is highly relevant to the debate about Ranger (in many ways)Ranger (in many ways)

•• Jabiluka is an integral part of Mirarr countryJabiluka is an integral part of Mirarr country•• In 1996, a revised Jabiluka project was In 1996, a revised Jabiluka project was

proposed by ERA / North Ltdproposed by ERA / North Ltd•• Due to ongoing concerns over the extent of Due to ongoing concerns over the extent of

impacts from Ranger, Mirarr opposed Jabiluka impacts from Ranger, Mirarr opposed Jabiluka and worked hard to prevent the then and worked hard to prevent the then development development –– joined by many alliesjoined by many allies

•• In 2000, Rio Tinto tookover North Ltd In 2000, Rio Tinto tookover North Ltd ……


Finding Common Ground : Finding Common Ground : Ranger RehabRanger Rehab

•• Despite the adversarial Jabiluka campaigns Despite the adversarial Jabiluka campaigns waged by Mirarrwaged by Mirarr--GAC and North/ERA, the fact GAC and North/ERA, the fact remained the same :remained the same :Ranger would eventually need rehabilitationRanger would eventually need rehabilitation

•• From 2000 Rio Tinto adopted a different From 2000 Rio Tinto adopted a different approach and listened : GAC took stockapproach and listened : GAC took stock

•• Result : Jabiluka was placed on Result : Jabiluka was placed on ‘‘LTCMLTCM’’•• ERA regularly involve GAC and consultants ERA regularly involve GAC and consultants

over issues for Ranger (& Jabiluka)over issues for Ranger (& Jabiluka)•• CoCo--operation and udnerstanding improved operation and udnerstanding improved ……


Current Status of RangerCurrent Status of Ranger (Mirarr/GAC View)(Mirarr/GAC View)

•• Long history of environmental Long history of environmental ‘‘incidentsincidents’’–– 2000 Tailings Water Leak; 2002 Incidents; the (infamous) 2000 Tailings Water Leak; 2002 Incidents; the (infamous)

2004 Process2004 Process--Drinking Water incident; 2007 flood; etc.Drinking Water incident; 2007 flood; etc.

•• In the early 2000In the early 2000’’s, Ranger was expected to s, Ranger was expected to finished production by about 2011 or sofinished production by about 2011 or so

•• In recent years, given the uranium price, ERA In recent years, given the uranium price, ERA have continually revised and changed their have continually revised and changed their miningmining--milling plan for Rangermilling plan for Ranger

•• Present plans extend milling to ~2020 and :Present plans extend milling to ~2020 and :–– milling of lower grade stockpiles, expected larger Pit #3, milling of lower grade stockpiles, expected larger Pit #3,

possible underground mining of Ranger #3, etc possible underground mining of Ranger #3, etc ……


Towards a Shared PostTowards a Shared Post--Mining Landscape ?Mining Landscape ?

•• Over recent years, MirrarOver recent years, Mirrar--GAC have GAC have invested heavily in people and resources invested heavily in people and resources to facilitate input Rangerto facilitate input Ranger (op(op’’s & rehab)s & rehab)

•• Considerable goodwill was being Considerable goodwill was being established to address various issuesestablished to address various issues

•• Current Senior Mirarr had expected to be Current Senior Mirarr had expected to be able to walk a rehabilitated Ranger country able to walk a rehabilitated Ranger country with their children : this is now most with their children : this is now most unlikely and is corrupting goodwill to unlikely and is corrupting goodwill to address rehabilitation issuesaddress rehabilitation issues


Summary & ConclusionsSummary & Conclusions

•• Despite clear differences in world views, Despite clear differences in world views, both Mirarrboth Mirarr--GAC, ERA & others have shared GAC, ERA & others have shared interests in the successful rehabilitation of interests in the successful rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Areathe Ranger Project Area (& associated issues)(& associated issues)

•• We canWe can’’t meaningfully engage on merging t meaningfully engage on merging these cultural, scientific, regulatory and these cultural, scientific, regulatory and corporate needs due to the evercorporate needs due to the ever--changing changing production plan for Rangerproduction plan for Ranger

•• There is hope and goodwill for the future on There is hope and goodwill for the future on both sides but this is being tested both sides but this is being tested ……


““None of the promises last, None of the promises last, but the problems always do.but the problems always do.””

Yvonne Margarula, Senior Traditional OwnerYvonne Margarula, Senior Traditional Owner

Documents

Rehabilitation at Ranger - Monash Universityusers.monash.edu/~gmudd/files/2007-AusIMM-Uran-Conf-2007.pdf · GAC : AusIMM Uranium Conf 2007 : 15 May 2007 – Mirarr Views and Rehabilitation