From Envirowiki

Jabiluka was a Uranium Mining proposal put forward by Energy Resources Australia (ERA) in the mid 1990s. the proposal would have mined upwards of 90,000 tonnes of high grade uranium ore out of the middle of Kakadu National Park, one of Australia's. and the world's most important wetland bioregions and a world heritage area.

[edit] Situation

Jabiluka is closely associated with the Ranger mine, another uranium mine in Kakadu, about 20km away. both mines are both situated on Mirrar (australian indigenous group) lands.

the Jabiluka mine site is in the escarpment region of the national park.

North Limited are the parent company of ERA.

[edit] History

Uranium was first found in Kakadu in the 1960s.

The first mining proposal for jabiluka was in 1982, an EIS was completed, but the proposal was stopped when the Hawke Government was elected.

in 1991 ERA bought the mining lease from... .

In 1996, ERA's proposal was to mine underground, and transport the ore to Ranger mine to be processed. they argued that the mine would add 6.2 million dollars to Australia's gross domestic product.

in October 1997, under the Howard Government, full federal approval was given to the mine at jabiluka. ERA were needed processing facilities for the Ore they were to produce, but didn't have the $200 million required for the facilities, besides which, the mine would have had to increase from 20 hectares to 100 hectares. They proceded to begin mining, in the hope that Mirrar, who had veto power over the use of the ranger mine's facilities, would allow them to truck the ore to Ranger, instead of destroying the large area of the park required for onsite facilities. with the support of protesters and blockaders, the Mirrar didn't bend, and in the end ERA had to cease mining.

the blockade, one of the most successful blockades in australia, lasted from March 1998 to October of the same year, and involved around 5,000 activists, and 600 arrests. The Campaign is internationally recognised.