Living with the mining threat
Arkaroola is a remote and spectacular part of the Flinders ranges in northern South Australia. It attracts thousands of international visitors every year. Since the late 19th century it’s also always been a place of interest to miners – uranium was first found there during the second world war and brought out by camel. It’s the current would-be miners that are causing problems though – Marathon Resources have been exploring for several years, keen to get access to the deposits of uranium that lie under Mount Gee. They’ve already been fined for dumping radioactive waste and currently haven’t had their exploration lease renewed but Arkaroola leaseholder Marg Sprigg says the threat of mining still hangs over Arkaroola. She travelled to Adelaide this week and joined local Greens politicians to protest against mining being allowed in the area