Desert Stories - Life in Central Australia

Artist: Fiona Katauskas

The issue of uranium mining and indeed nuclear power itself have been gaining much publicity lately. Whilst our Prime Minister was busy flogging the virtues of nuclear power this week (what on earth is wrong with this bloke?), it was disappointing to see the outcome of voting at the ALP conference yesterday which supported the abolition of the Labor Party's 'No New Mines' policy. As a NT resident, it was even further disappointing to note that the NT Chief Minister (together with the NT Environment Minister) voted in favour of the policy changes. In a rare flurry of email writing, I sent the following letter to Chief Minister Martin today:

Dear Chief Minister Martin,

I am writing to express my concerns on the votes cast by yourself and the NT Environment Minister at the Labor Party conference yesterday which supported the abolition of the Labor Party's 'No New Mines' policy. What does this vote signal for the future of the Northern Territory and uranium mining?

What has changed since the statements made by your Government less than two years ago firmly denouncing any new mines in the NT? On June 17 2005 you stated that your Government's policy was clear and that the NT Government did not want any more uranium mines. More recently you have stated that this was not personal opinion but simply support for the party policy. But what really changed? Your campaign against the Federal Government's proposed Nuclear Waste dump in the NT was certainly more than just a reflection of party policy. It was at times a very personal and highly publicised campaign. How can you personally (and as a Government) remain so strongly opposed to the establishment of a Nuclear Waste dump in the NT, but at the same time, strongly support the expansion of uranium mining in the NT?

It seems ludicrous that the NT Government has always displayed such fierce and vocal opposition to the siting of a Nuclear Waste facility in the NT and yet now supports the ALP's abolition of the "No New Mines" policy. The Nuclear Waste facility has been opposed by your Government not only on scientific grounds, but also on the basis of public perception and support for our Territory's fragile and important environment - and the Territory's image: "Storing long-lasting toxic waste in a sensitive and fragile environment with ground-water issues is contrary to sound scientific management. Not only has it got the potential to cause environmental harm but it could also harm the Territory's image," you stated in an official press release on 21 November 2005.

Likewise Chief Minister, expanding uranium mining (with its unfortunate global history for mishap and accidents, including here in the NT at Rum Jungle and also several documented serious incidents at Ranger mine) in "a sensitive and fragile environment" is also contrary to sound scientific management and has the potential to cause environmental harm. Possibly more so than a Nuclear Waste dump.

You cannot support the first step of the process if you do not support the rest of the system which Uranium mining points to. The changes to Labor Party policy make a mockery of any Labor Party opposition to Nuclear Power generation in Australia and the establishment of Nuclear Waste dumps. It does not make scientific sense. And it certainly does not make political sense.

Let's make the Northern Territory a leader in seeking new and innovative ways for investment opportunities and future success. Uranium mining for Nuclear Power generation is not innovative nor attractive. With the current issues of global warming and rising emissions levels, this is a chance for your Government to be remembered for its environmentally sound and long-term economically viable and sustainable visions for Energy. The geographical nature of settlement in the NT lends itself to innovation in Power Generation - as the Power and Water Authority are already demonstrating in several sites around the Territory (including Kings Canyon with its Solar Power generation).

Let's encourage investment in renewable and sustainable Energy sources. And let's leave the problematic, environmental degrading and harmful, and politically unpopular ideas of uranium mining and nuclear energy untouched and out of harm's way. Thank-you for your time,

Keiran Lusk



Some good sources of information on this subject:


The Sustainable Enery and Anti-Uranuim Service Inc.

Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia

Australia Conservation Foundation (ACF)

The Wilderness Society - Nuclear Blog

Anti-Nuclear Australia

The Greens

Nuclear Power - No solution to Climate Change (Report)

Posted by Keiran Lusk at 8:05 pm | Permalink | Comments

After putting it off for many years, I have finally taken to the skies above Yulara and Uluru... for my first ever ride in a helicopter. Nearly six months ago I won a 'helicopter flight for two' at the AAT Kings staff Christmas Party. With the voucher due to expire shortly, I decided to treat Astrid to a flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. It was a beautiful sunny day and the weather conditions were perfect. The half hour flight provided us with spectacular views of the amazing desert country where I live. Although I enjoyed the experience, I can happily tick this off my list now... and get back to enjoying life with two feet planted firmly on the ground!

Posted by Keiran Lusk at 11:47 pm | Permalink | Comments

Another trip out to Kata Tjuta after work today... I wanted to show Astrid the beauty of Walpa Gorge in the late afternoon sun. Our arrival could not have been timed better - the last busload of people was departing as we arrived! We had the entire gorge to ourselves. The creek was still trickling slightly down through the gorge and this provided for some spectacular photos in the late afternoon light. We were fascinated with the warm red reflections of the dome walls in the quiet pools of water. And took a million photos. We watched the sun set from the platform at the end of the Walpa Gorge walk and then made our way back to the carpark in the semi-dark. Back on the road again, we spent probably a little too much time experimenting with the photography of a Kangaroo road warning sign against a star filled sky background... But it was fun and the whole trip a lovely end to the day!

Posted by Keiran Lusk at 8:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

What a beautiful Sunday in the desert. This afternoon, Astrid and I drove out to Kata Tjuta to walk the Valley of the Winds track. The weather was a little cooler, so the entire walking track was open (when the forecast temperature is 36 degrees celsius or above, the Valley of the Winds walking track is closed from 11am onwards from the first lookout). Thankfully, there was also a nice breeze blowing, which helped to stop the billions of flies from annoying us too much.

It seems like years since I have walked this wonderful track. Sadly, there are two things that really piss me off when I am walking in any National Park in Australia... The first is cigarette butts (a subject that I could write pages about) and the second is toilet tissues. Now apparently I have talked just a little too much about this subject over the years (thanks Mel for telling Astrid)... but... If there is one thing that really annoys me about this track and the people that walk it.... it is the six thousand pieces of toilet tissue that line the track and appear behind every bush... Yep, there are no toilets along the 8km track and it is perfectly reasonable to expect that people will need to run behind a bush every now and again... BUT can this not be carried out without the revolting paper trail that is more than obvious along the sides of this track? I have been contemplating starting a new campaign entitled 'Shake and Dry'... but concede this is probably a marketing nightmare... Unfortunately this seems to be a problem all over Australia and there is probably little I can or want to do - without becoming the 'Shake and Dry' ambassador and public face of a rather embarrassing National Tourism campaign...

So after a lovely walk and a chat with Rangers James and Mel, we drove out along the Docker River Road (just a little way) to watch the sunset and enjoy the amazing colours of the sky and the spectacular silhouette of desert oak trees (some ancient living examples and also some skeletal remains of trees long finished)... We crossed paths once again with Rangers James and Mel who came rattling down the dirt road in their Parks Toyota 4WD ute (Ranger Melly is back at Uluru and has just started work with Parks, so was learning the ropes of the KP shift or Kata Tjuta Patrol). After sunset we slowly made our way home. A perfect day in the desert...

Posted by Keiran Lusk at 10:07 pm | Permalink | Comments

Enjoyed a magical view of Uluru at sunrise this morning. I was up early for work and captured these photos just before the sun came up... Every day is different in the desert... What a perfect morning.

Posted by Keiran Lusk at 11:33 pm | Permalink | Comments

Astrid and I headed up to Alice Springs on the weekend to help Tony Mac celebrate his 40th birthday. There has been a 'reasonable' amount of rainfall in Central Australia over the last two weeks of March and this was quite evident on the drive from Yulara to Alice Springs (although Yulara did not officially receive much rain at all during March, according to the Bureau of Meteorology - only 2.8mm at the airport). There was a lot of water still lying on the sides of the road between Curtain Springs and Erldunda. And it was clear that the water had completely covered the road in many places (particularly between Mt Ebenezer and Erldunda) during the downpour. Of course the water has encouraged substantial growth in the grasses (especially buffel grass) beside the road... which in turn, is attracting a large number of cattle to the road edges. I have never seen so many cattle on or near the road along this stretch of highway. Take care if driving the Lassetter Highway over the coming weeks - there are cattle everywhere on this unfenced road.

Posted by Keiran Lusk at 11:02 pm | Permalink | Comments