The Ranger Uranium Mine lies within the ecological boundaries of the Kakadu National Park World Heritage area, in the eastern edge of the Park. Legally, it occupies a mineral lease cut, or excised from the park.

The Ranger mine was the first new mine to go ahead in the second wave of uranium mining in Australia, and it holds a significant place in the history of indigenous land rights in this country. Despite an Aboriginal Land Rights Inquiry, the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry, strong public opposition, determined opposition of the traditional owners and dissent within the Australian Labor Party, Ranger went into production in 1980.

Energy Resources Australia (now owned by global mining giant Rio Tinto) has created more than 16 million tonnes of radioactive tailings, and are struggling unsuccesfully to keep the pollutants within the mine boundaries. Because of Kakadu's heavy monsoonal rainfall, discharges of radioactive water have plagued the mine since it commenced operations.

The local Traditional Owners signed the Ranger Agreement under considerable duress, and have seen the promised benefits to their communites evaporate like a mirage.

Ranger is due to close within the next few years as the resource is all but mined out. Its future hinges on being able to establish the Jabiluka mine 20km to the north and truck the ore to Ranger for milling. It is this option which the Mirrar People have vetoed, putting the future of both Ranger and Jabiluka in doubt.

• Ranger's water (mis)management
  The mine's designers under-estimated the rainfall in the area, and over-estimated the effects of evaporation. As a result, water management is a constant headache for the miners.
• Environmental Breaches
  For a mine operating in one of the world's most ecologically and culturally important regions, this 10 year snapshot of leaks, spills and accidents give the lie to the claim of 'world's best practice'.
• Kakadu National Park
  There could hardly be a less appropriate place for a uranium mine...Kakadu World Heritage Area, National Park and Indigenous homeland.
• Stop Jabiluka Mine
  The Traditional Owners of the region are determined that history not be allowed to repeat, and are steadfastly opposing the establishment of the nearby Jabiluka Uranium Mine.
• Energy Resources of Australia
  The company created solely to mine Ranger and other nearby deposits. Now owned by Rio Tinto, but looking to be sold off (most likely to Cogema)

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Ranger in Brief