Aboriginal vote unanimously rejects Kimba radioactive waste storage site proposal

Traditional landowners have unanimously rejected a proposal to build a nuclear waste storage site near Kimba, saying it shows there is no “broad community support” for it to go ahead.

Adnyamathanha women Regina McKenzie and Enice Marsh are worried about a proposal for a nuclear waste dump in the Flinders Ranges. Picture: Kelly Barnes/The Australian

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Traditional landowners have unanimously rejected a push to set up a radioactive waste site near Kimba, as the Federal Government edges closer to a decision on the project.

The Barngarla community engaged independent ballot agent Australian Election Company to conduct a postal ballot on whether a dump should be built at one of two sites near the town.

All of the 83 people who voted rejected the proposal, but 126 other Barngarla native title holders did not take part in the ballot.

The Federal Government is considering building the storage site at either the Napandee or Lyndhurst property near Kimba, or Wallerberdina station, near Hawker in the Flinders Ranges.

It would store low and intermediate level waste – mostly from nuclear medicine.

About 45 people are expected to work there and the host community would receive a $31 million package from the Government.

The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation said, following members’ “total rejection” of the proposal, Resources Minister Matt Canavan should determine there was no broad community support for the project.

In a statement, the board said it would “take whatever steps are necessary” to oppose the storage site being built on Barngarla country.

A ballot of Kimba Council ratepayers earlier this month found 62 per cent of voters backed the proposal. A separate poll is underway in Hawker and both have been opposed by traditional land owners who are concerned they have been excluded.

Adnyamathanha Elder Enice Marsh said a separate ballot was being held for traditional land owners near Wallerberdina station.

“In our case I think the biggest majority will vote against the waste dump,” Mrs Marsh said.

“To introduce substances from another land onto our sacred land would mean a bad omen under anyone’s eyes.”

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Mrs Marsh said a tremor in the region last week also showed that Wallerberdina was an unsuitable site.

Earlier this year, more than 3000 people signed a petition calling on the Federal Government to scrap plans for a dump at Kimba or Hawker.

But others in the communities have welcomed its ability to bring long-term jobs, and inject new money into regions hit hard by the drought.

A decision on the site is expected late this year or early next year after the Hawker ballot closes on December 12.

A spokesman for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science said “no single metric or number” would determine support for the storage site.

He said the department had worked closely with indigenous representatives, including offering financial support for ballots of their members.

The spokesman said assessments had confirmed no registered heritage sites at Kimba or Hawker would be impacted by the plans.

Originally published as Aboriginal vote unanimously rejects Kimba radioactive waste storage site proposal