Samphire Uranium Project trial raises concern for farmers outside of Whyalla

The resurrection of a historical uranium drilling site near a major SA city has left neighbouring farmers concerned about the potential impact on their environment and livelihood.

Farmers in the Upper Spencer Gulf have flagged concerns over the resumption of a uranium mining trial in their backyard.

The Samphire Uranium Project is managed by mining exploration company Alligator Energy and is located 20km south of Whyalla – just 2.5km from the Spencer Gulf.

The site was previously drilled by Uranium SA between 2008 and 2012 before the project was disbanded due to the global uranium market.

The Samphire Uranium Project features two uranium sites (Blackbush and Plumbush) and uses In Situ Recovery (ISR) or “solution mining” methods to extract uranium.

This method adds sulphuric acid to the groundwater which is then pumped underground and then back to the surface to be recovered in a processing facility.

Whyalla sheep farmer Ike Ashby works on the property next door and is concerned about the proximity of the project to the Spencer Gulf.

ISR mining tests are being conducted at two uranium prospects (Blackbush and Plumbush) 20 km south of Whyalla. Picture: Supplied.

“We operate on pastoral country near the coast which is a very natural environment and that’s part of the appeal,” Mr Ashby said.

“The idea of operating a farm next door to a uranium mine and processing plant is not ideal.

“We’ve got uranium right on our front doorstep and we need to understand what impact pumping chemicals into the groundwater aquifer that flows towards the Spencer Gulf will have.”

Alligator Energy CEO and mining director Greg Hall said he anticipated concerns about the companies role in the nuclear cycle. Picture: Twitter

Alligator Energy CEO and managing director Greg Hall said the company is committed to engaging with pastoralists and farmers with current and historical concerns.

“My understanding is the previous company (Uranium SA) did have a dispute about the impact on the ground to do with heavy drill trucks coming onto soft tracks and damaging them,” he said.

“Mining operations like ours coexist with organic properties everywhere, up at the Beverley Uranium Mine they also have an organic-graded cattle property adjacent.

“What’s important for the image of surrounding local industry is how you operate in the region.”

The site of the Samphire Project was previously drilled by Uranium SA before being disbanded in 2012. Picture: Facebook

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said the project should be seen as a potential opportunity for the local community.

“In regards to property values, this is probably the lowest impact form of mining, at the end of the day they’ll come and go and you won’t see where they’ve been,” Mr Ramsey said.

“It’s a pretty small footprint, if I was a property owner I’d be looking for my opportunities instead of focusing on negatives that aren’t there.”

Alligator Energy will need to seek further approval from state and federal governments before an operating uranium mine can be established pending the success of the trial.