No Uranium Mining on Upurli Upurli Nguratja
Stand strong, don’t be frightened. Stand up, don’t get pushed around by uranium miners.”
Janice Scott – Laverton WA.
Deep Yellow are trying to mine uranium at Mulga Rock in the Great Victoria Desert, on Upurli Upurli Nguratja (home/ land). This area is also home to the endangered Sandhill Dunnart and many vulnerable and threatened species. The companies board members have a history of destroying cultural heritage and sidelining community concerns, workers rights and environmental values.
Where is Mulga Rock?
Mulga Rock is in the Great Victoria Spring Desert, in the Yellow Sandplain Priority Ecological Community. 240km NE of Kalgoorlie on Wongatha country. Mulga Rock is home to the endangered Sandhill Dunnart, Marsupial Moles, Brush tailed mulgara live here and the migratory rainbow bee eater visits this area. There are also significant cultural heritage sites here.
Spinifex & and Upurli Upurli
Lots of people have connection to this area. The Spinifex people settled near by in Cundellee having fled Maralinga in the 1950’s and 60’s during the British Atomic Weapons tests. This became the new home and area people practiced culture. This area has a registered Native Title claim – Upurli Upurli Nguratja, many Wongatha people are connected to this area and are concerned about uranium mining.
How advanced is it?
There is an environmental approval to mine but the company still need a works approval and many licenses and permits. They don’t have the funds to establish the mine and have not yet made a board level decision to mine. There is no agreement with Traditional Owners. There is a long way to go for them to start this mine and many groups are opposed and committed to stopping this mine.
“As caretakers we have a cultural responsibility to protect land that is near the Seven Sisters, a sacred site for women. The land is a special place for women, the beautiful soft desert sands are healing sands. We don’t want uranium mining, we’ve written to government to let them know we the Traditional Owners have not been consulted. The current clearing at the site is disrespectful and shows a total lack of social value, moral and ethical leadership.“
Debbie Carmody – Traditional Owner – Mulga Rock area – Upurli Upurli Nguratja
WA Nuclear Free Alliance 