News Review: Minister clarifies Woomera access | ADM Jul 2010

Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, has settled some of the uncertainty over encroachments by mining firms into the Woomera range area by releasing a public statement setting out conditions which apply to applications to access the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA).

“Over the past year, there have been several prominent investment proposals affecting resources companies which have an interest in exploiting minerals in the WPA,” Faulkner said.

“The same period has also seen increased interest by resources companies wishing to explore in the WPA.

“It is evident that there is a need to provide greater clarity to the resources sector about the considerations which apply to granting access to the area for mineral exploration and mining.

“The public statement is aimed at providing that clarity,” he said.

While the statement (http://www.defence.gov.au/header/documents/WPA_Public_Statement.pdf) says that applications to explore in the WPA will be treated on a case by case basis, a Core Area of Operation including the Woomera instrumented range and a down-range corridor are off-limits: “It is unlikely that the need for compatibility with Defence’s activities, national security and human safety concerns could be sufficiently mitigated to allow access for exploration or mining in this area.”

“Although safety risks are reduced in the non core area,” it adds, “assessment of safety, compatibility with Defence’s activities and national security concerns will apply.

The latter will be especially relevant if the prospective entity has a degree of foreign ownership, and/or is controlled or influenced by foreign entities.

National security concerns may determine the nature of acceptable company ownership, structure or access.”

The Minister also announced that the Government would be examining the future of the Woomera Prohibited Area with a view to maximising its value to the nation for Defence and economic development for the next 20 to 30 years.

“To this end the Government has commissioned a review, led by Dr Allan Hawke, which will consult all interested parties and provide its report to Government by the end of 2010”, Senator Faulkner said.