Uranium mine under a cloud

It is unclear whether the intervention of the Federal Government in the dealings of an Aboriginal corporation will affect the construction of a uranium mine in the East Pilbara.

Cameco and partner Mitsubishi received Federal environmental approval to develop the Kintyre uranium mine last Friday.

Although development plans are on hold because of the weak uranium price, Cameco Australia managing director Brian Reilly welcomed the approval from Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, which followed the sign-off from WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob last month.

He said the Federal approval followed the highest and most thorough environmental impact assessment and more than four years of community consultation and environmental and technical studies.

However, Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple, who has always opposed the development, questioned whether the project would go ahead if the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations placed the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation under special administration.

"I am very, very concerned that ORIC has already asked WDLAC for due cause as to why they should not go under administration," he said.

"I would think that it would be highly inappropriate for the project to proceed given that now there are some investigations … into the management of WDLAC and its dealings, and its financial involvement not only with this company but a number of others."

WDLAC signed an agreement with Cameco in 2012 on behalf of the Martu people whose land would be mined.

It is not clear if this agreement will be affected if WDLAC is placed under special administration in May, with Cameco declining to comment.

After last week's announcement, the Parnngurr Aboriginal Community, comprised of Martu people and located 80km from the proposed site, vowed to keep fighting against the proposal.

Parnngurr community deputy chairman Jimmy Williams said there was no unanimous or majority decision from the Martu people for Kintrye to go ahead, despite what may have been suggested.

"The Parnngurr community has always opposed the Kintyre uranium mine … our old people stopped uranium mining and we have to do the same," he said.

"We don't want a mine at Kintyre or at Lake Disappointment, but they are not listening to us."

Federal approval for the mine includes conditions covering radiation, ground and surface water, terrestrial fauna and mine closure, which must be met before mining can begin.

WDLAC did not respond to questions about the status of land agreements.