50km west of the Townsville CBD, behind the Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms, lies a sleeping beast that, if awoken, could spell disaster for Townsville locals, our environment and our water supply.

The Ben Lomond Uranium mine has been closed since 1981, following a serious radioactive spill caused by the ore stockpile wall being breached during torrential tropical rainfall. This event resulted in toxic radioactive mine waste being dumped into Keelbottom Creek, which feeds into the Burdekin River – an important source of water for Townsville.

Following this serious pollution event (which recorded radium levels far exceeding limits set by the National Health and Medical Research Council), the Queensland Mining Warden’s Court recommended that the mine be not granted a continuing lease.

Decades of neglect by the mine owners, breaches of the Environment Authority granted to them and inaction by successive Queensland governments, eventually led to an Environmental Protection Order being placed on the mine owners in 2016 to clean up the toxic waste left at the neglected site.

Uranium mining is currently banned in Queensland.

Prior to the 2012 state election, Queenslanders were told that the LNP had “no plans to introduce uranium mining”. Once elected, however, the Newman government quickly developed a Uranium Mining Implementation Committee to explore how it could be restarted in Queensland.

North Queensland Conservation Council Coordinator Crystal Falknau says:

“While Peter Dutton has vocally supported uranium mining and nuclear energy, David Crisafulli has neither come out in support or opposition, stating simply that nuclear energy is “not part of our plan”. Without having released an energy plan at all, he is leaving Queenslanders in the dark.

“Townsville locals deserve assurances that the dangerous Ben Lomond Uranium Mine will not be allowed to threaten our community with its toxic waste again.

“We are calling upon the Queensland LNP to throw their support behind renewable energy and getting the rollout right. Well-sited wind and solar projects can support North Queensland’s economy and communities, while the road to nuclear only puts us at risk.”

Image source: https://nuclear.australianmap.net/ben-lomond-uranium-deposit/

News coverage in the Townsville Bulletin: Conservation Group Seeks Clarity Over Uranium Ban, 23 Sept 2024