Forty anti-nuclear activists staged a protest on Friday against the Olympic Dam expansion, blockading the entrance and stopping traffic from entering.
The protest aimed to highlight the “catastrophic effects” the mine and its expansion would have on traditional owners and their natural resources. Activists painted themselves blue and used their bodies to spell words such as water, with some people partly naked to help draw attention to their views.
One activist chained himself to a four-wheel-drive blocking the Olympic Dam entrance forcing traffic to be diverted and also stood in the path of a large truck.
Nine police from Roxby Downs, Andamooka and Woomera were called to the scene and two road blocks were set up to divert traffic but no arrests were made.
The group demanded to speak to a BHP Billiton spokesperson and refused to leave until they did.
An Olympic Dam spokesperson told The Roxby Downs Sun the protest had minimal impact on the mine’s operations.
“It was a generally peaceful protest … we respected their right to protest in a lawful manner,” the Olympic Dam spokesperson told the Sun.
“The main gate was temporarily blocked by the protestors … thank you to SA Police for their assistance on the day.”
The group told The Roxby Downs Sun there was no need for uranium mining in Australia and Roxby Downs could produce endless renewable energy sources like solar energy or use wind farm technology as an eco-friendly alternative.
“This is a toxic mine, no one is safe,” activist Catrina Staurmberg said.
“Radioactive material does not discriminate. If the open-cut expansion or any kind of uranium mining continues it will put many lives at risk across the country.
“For every tonne of uranium produced, 660 tonnes of radioactive tailings waste remains behind.
“At Olympic Dam it’s completely exposed enjoying the sunshine and is not safely contained, but out here in the outback, out of sight out of mind.”
Indigenous Solidarity Rides spokesman Zane Alcorn said: “Not only is the expansion at Olympic Dam going ahead without the consent of traditional owners, but tens of thousands of gigalitres of water per day is being sucked out of the Artesian Basin on Arabunna land to service the mine.
“Australia is the driest continent on the earth and faces a massive water shortage.
“It is ludicrous that we are literally exporting our sacred and precious water.”
Speaking about the livelihood of the workers should the mine close, Mr Alcorn said the workers could help with the mine shut down and be involved with the decontamination of the area to make their living in an eco-friendly way.
Roxby Downs Police Sergeant Stuart Paxton told The Roxby Downs Sun police were not pre-organised to attend but were called to the scene, however he said protestors were reasonably well behaved in “trying to get their view across”.
“There were nil incidents, police negotiated with the protestors and BHP Billiton officials to achieve a successful outcome,” Sgt Paxton said.
“Police set up traffic diversions to manage the safe flow of traffic on roads within a disputed area regardless of the incident.
“This was to avoid further congestion of the entry to the Olympic Dam mine and reduce the risk of injury to members of the public, workers, protestors and police.”
Sgt Paxton thanked the South Australian Ambulance Service for attending the scene and the workers and public for their patience with traffic diversions.
“I also acknowledge the non-violent nature of the protest by the activists and their attention to maintaining dialogue with police.”
Email a friend