Levee protects against uranium mine's run-off

Andrew Thompson
ABC News Online

Concerns over cracks in a uranium mine's pit wall have eased thanks to a new flood levee, which is protecting a nearby Territory community from the operation's water run-off, an Aboriginal corporation has said.

The Top End community of Mudginberri, near Jabiru, was briefly cut off by flood waters on the weekend.

Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation executive officer Justin O'Brien commended recent works by uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia to build the flood levee at its Ranger mine.

He said the levee had proved its worth.

"That structure was a good investment," Mr O'Brien said.

"There was some cracking in the pit wall and destabilisation there with water coming in.

"That's now not happening because of this levee, so the stakes are high out here.

"The community of Mudginberri is just several kilometres downstream of the uranium mine."

Mr O'Brien said the company had made considerable efforts to ensure the welfare of the residents living near the mine.

"We've forever been vigilant about making sure that the environment and people's health is protected," he said.

"I'm glad to say , with the recent good work of the ERA in terms of surface water and ground water, that we are a lot more comfortable this year than we have been in previous times."


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