The first sign of uranium mineralisation at Beverley was discovered in 1969 by the OTP Group of companies (Oilmin-Transoil-Petromin, which were partly under the influence of racist ex-premier of Queensland, Joh Bjelke-Petersen). Further exploration undertaken by OTP in a joint venture with Western Uranium Ltd (acquired by Phelps Dodge Corporation in 1971, becoming Western Nuclear) led to formal discovery of an economic orebody in July 1970. The First Stage
Initial studies were conducted with the aim of an open cut mining operation. However, the downturn in the uranium market of the early 1970s led to the abandonment of the project by June 1974.
The South Australian Uranium Corpoation (SAUC) acquired the Beverley deposit in 1981 and began studies directed towards using the relatively new technique of In Situ Leaching (ISL). The Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released in July 1982. The EIS was hailed as woefully inadequate by the generaly public, the environment and anti-uranium movement with a total of 222 submissions made to the EIS. The Second Attempt
Due to the poor quality of the EIS, the Environmental Assessment process was delayed and the South Australian Government refused approvals until these issues were resolved. A Supplementary EIS was not prepared. With the election of the ALP in 1983 and the introduction of the "Three Mines Policy", the Beverley Project was shelved for a second time in 1985.
General Atomics, with a long term view develop a global uranium production arm to their nuclear multi-national, acquired the Beverley deposit in 1990 and specifically founded Heathgate Resources to manage the development of the deposit. General Atomics do not have any history of involvement with uranium mining, and none whatsoever with the In Situ Leaching (ISL) technique. The Third and Current Attempt
In late 1995 and early 1996 General Atomics decided to assess all of the uranium deposits acquired in the recent five years, and with the change of government in Australia in March 1996, saw Beverley as the best deposit for commercial development. Heathgate then applied to the federal government to initiate the Environmental Impact Assessment process (EIA), and the direction for a new Environmental Impact Statement was given in late 1996. Heathgate have now been slowly progressing towards a full scale ISL uranium mine at Beverley since this time.
Initially, in early 1997, further exploratory bores were drilled and a series of pump test arrays installed and tested. By the end of 1997, Heathgate had applied to the SA government (MESA) to undertake a Field Leaching Trial of ISL at Beverley before the release of the EIS. The document supporting the trial, the Declaration of Environmental Factors (DEF) was not made available to the public until well after approvals had been given. It is clear that Heathgate is progressing their development of the Beverley project under a veil of secrecy with the SA government.
The DEF for the Field Leaching Trial (FLT) (detailed critique here) :
plans to re-inject toxic waste waters from processing and excess pumping back into the same aquifer, significantly increasing the levels of radionuclides and heavy metals above natural levels; contains no plans for rehabilitation of groundwater after the trials; plans to dispose of solid radioactive wastes at the old Radium Hill mine; does not decisively prove the isolation of the orebody aquifer from surrounding groundwater systems; Heathgate are therefore treating the Beverley site as a radioactive waste disposal site with arguable regard for the long term consequences for the groundwater of the region.
There has also been significant questions about the consultation Heathgate is required by law to undertake with the traditional owners of the region, the Adnyamthanha. In 1996 the company signed agreements with two individual Native Title Claimants in support of the mine. These people do not share the confidence of the broad Adnyamathanha community.
The broad Adnyamathanha community have been expressing concern over uranium mining developments in the Gammon Ranges for nearly 50 years. "Traditional Adnyamathanha cultural history details a very important warning about the Beverley area and in fact wherever other deposits have been 'discovered' by mining exploration. These areas are described in oral history as "tabu zones" and "poisonous ground" and the gases and water sources in these areas likewise". The new Adnyamathanha Community Native Title claims continue to give a broad and crystal clear message of deep concern over any development of the Beverley site.
The new EIS, being prepared by Heathgate Resources and not an independent consultant, was released on June 29, 1998. Heathgate intend to begin work on a full scale mine sometime 1999.
One wonders if Heathgate will really be third time lucky ?
I doubt it - LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND.
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