A recent decision by the Federal Government has ended decades of uncertainty around the future of the Jabiluka uranium project site.
The Jabiluka uranium site will be added to Kakadu National Park following the decision to not renew the mineral lease.
After the Federal Government advised the Northern Territory Government that the lease should not be renewed, the Territory Government declined to extend the lease of the Jabiluka uranium project.
The Federal Government will now begin the process of incorporating the site to the Kakadu National Park, in line with the wishes of the Mirarr Traditional Owners.
Energy Resources Australia (ERA) has held the licence of the Jabiluka site since 1991 but no mine has been developed. The mineral lease for the site will end on 11 August.
Jabiluka sits alongside the former Ranger Uranium Mine, which is also owned by ERA and its major shareholder, Rio Tinto, and has been in rehabilitation since 2021.
Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, said that she met with the Jabiluka Mineral Lease significant stakeholders and that the decision provides clarity and certainty to all parties.
“ERA and their major shareholder, Rio Tinto, rightly committed to not developing the site without the support of the Mirarr Traditional Owners, who are completely opposed to the renewal of the lease.”
Ms King said Jabiluka contains outstanding and extensive rock art, shelters and paintings that are recognised as among the longest historical records of any group of people on earth.
“Aboriginal people have occupied the Kakadu region continuously for at least 65,000 years.”
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, said, “Following this significant step, we can now work with Traditional Owners to begin the process of incorporating Jabiluka into Kakadu National Park.
“Labor protected Macquarie Island, Kakadu, the Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef. And today we are expanding on that legacy.
“Kakadu is one of our most precious places – Kakadu’s rock art documents Indigenous creation stories and makes up one of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world.”
Ms Plibersek said Kakadu is home to 2,000 plant species, around one-third of all Australian bird species and about one-fifth of all Australian mammals.
“That’s why today I’m pleased to begin work to incorporate the Jabiluka site into Kakadu National Park.
“We’ll do that alongside Mirrar Traditional Owners who have been successfully looking after this land for tens of thousands of years.”
Senior Traditional Owner of Jabiluka, Yvonne Margarula, said, “Jabiluka is a significant place for Mirrar people. It is the site of strong cultural significance – a place we have fought to protect.
“I thank all people and governments who have worked with Mirrar over the last 30 years to ensure the protection of Jabiluka.”
The decision will not impact Australian uranium supplies to customers as the Jabiluka site has never been mined.
Featured image: 2021 Photography /shutterstock.com
