ÃÂÃÂ¯^  m  OPERATION

(Statement by the Minister for National Development, R.W. Swartz).

Closing of the Commonwealth1s uranium mining and processing

operation at Rum Jungle marked the end of an era in Northern

Territory history.

Ã¢ÂÂ   However, although the treatment plant is being dismantled

and removed, the township of Batchelor, five miles from the Rum ;

jungle treatment plant, has been transferred without cost to the

Northern Territory Administration. .

Processing of stockpiled uranium ore from the Rum Jungle

Creek South open-cut mine was completed in April, 1971, ending

a period of continuous production which began in 1954. '

The treatment plant, associated services and vehicles

were auctioned by the Department of Supply on behalf of the Atomic

Energy Commission. Every item offered was sold, mostly to mining

companies or to Territorians.

A gratifying feature is that the Northern Territory Welfare

Department purchased tools, machine equipment and work-shop

buildings at the site and will maintain them at Rum Jungle. .

The Commonwealth Government has demonstrated its concern

for the area in many ways.

When all equipment is removed by purchasers, the plant area

will be levelled and scrap buried.

A six-foot safety fence has been built around the adjacent,

now water-filled^White1s open-cut mine.

Mullock heaps at the Rum Jungle Creek South open-cut mine

are being grassed.

The lake filling the open-cut has become a favourite

recreation area for the district and is used for swimming, 1  o  '

picnicking and boating.

. .  . / 2

2 .

TheÂ· Batchelor township, built in pleasant, timbered

country, was transferred by the Commission to the Northern

Territory Â«Administration at the end of May this year.

No charge was made, and the.transfer was complete with

all ancillary services and amenities, including the Crater Lake

water supply installation and a lease,of the power plant at the

former treatment plant site.

The town consists of 93 houses, plus a number of other

accommodation buildings, school, hospital, shops, churches, police

station, community centre, sports oval, tennis courts, bowling

greens, filtered swimming pool,, scout hall, canteen, and other

buildings.

The town's population varied up to about 600 people during

mining and processing operations.

Rum Jungle was the first substantial industrial enterprise

to be established in the Northern Territory. It set a high

standard of housing and community services which has influenced all

new, large-scale mining ventures in remote regions of Australia,

especially in tropical areas.

The whole conception is a credit to all who shared in the

design and operation of the Project.

Uranium was discovered at Rum Jungle in 1949 by Mr. J.M.

White, a local prospector. Subsequently, two other major uranium

orebodies were discovered - Dyson's and Rum Jungle Creek South.

The Australian Atomic Energy Commission assumed overall

control of the Rum Jungle project on behalf of the Federal

Government in 1952, and Consolidated Zinc Pty. Ltd. became

managers through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Territory Enterprises

Pty. Ltd. (TEP).

A ten-year agreement with the Combined Development Agency -

the Anglo-American uranium purehasing organistion operating at the

time - provided for delivery of yellowcake concentrate up to

January, 1963Â·

.  3. .

Production began in,1954 and deliveries to the end of

the contract period totalled. 3,249,483 lb. In addition,

concentrates containing 12,981 tons of copper were produced.

The Commonwealth Government realised a profit of

A$6.76 million on the operation.

After the conclusion of the CDA contract, production of

uranium concentrate continued until April, 1971, when ore was

exhausted and the treatment plant closed. Production had been

stockpiled against future Australian requirements.

During the past few years the Commission maintained an

extensive exploration programme in the Rum Jungle area. However,

although mineralization was widespread, no further economic

uranium ore bodies were.discovered.

The,Commission1s exploration programme was carried out < '  .  '  Â·

by TEP and the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics

(BMR) . Â·

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