The federal government has announced construction of the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility in Kimba will no longer go ahead.
This comes after the Federal Court ruled in favour of the Barngarla people last month and judged the site selection of Napandee was influenced by bias and pre-judgement.
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation explained the site was sacred for women, and those residing outside the Kimba council area were not included in the consultation process.
The District Council of Kimba have released a statement urging Resource Minister Madeleine King to reconsider the cancellation of the works.
Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson says the council has undergone eight years of planning and critical decision making for the economic future of their region on the basis of the radioactive waste facility.
Mayor Johnson says this is a kick in the guts and he hopes the federal government understands the impact of the decision on Kimba.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey agrees scrapping the facility is the wrong decision – noting there is limited time to secure a location.
However, many community members are relieved with the outcome, believing the nuclear waste facility to not fit in with Kimba’s prominent agriculture industry.
