Ranger Uranium Mine Investigation Compromised
In March of this year the Ranger Uranium Mine in Kakadu had a serious contamination scare. There were major events: firstly, 150,000 litres of contaminated material spilled into the feeder creek system of Kakadu National Park. Secondly, a contaminated water line mixed into a drinking water line. Overnight workers unknowingly drank and washed in water that had four-hundred times the maximum Australian safety level of Uranium. 28 workers have since become ill. Energy Resources Australia (ERA), the operators of the Ranger Uranium Mine, have just hired Alex Zapantis as their new Health, Safety and Environmental Manager. Until recently, Mr Zapantis was the chief architect of the Commonwealth “investigation” into the Ranger leak. Will Farrell spoke with Didge McDonald, the Health and Safety Officer at the NT Union, who’s hoping to meet with the State government later this week; and Dave Sweeney, Anti-Nuclear Campaigner with the Australian Conservation Council The Minister for Mines and Energy declined to comment. Spokeswoman for the ERA, Amanda Buckley, would only say that Energy Resources Australia are pleased to have employed someone with the calibre of Alex Zapantis.