Woomera village is the center for an Australian Defence Force facility that supports a defence weapons testing range for the RAAF. Located in the north western part of the outback desert it was established in mid 1947. The launch site in the facility was in its day a rival to the one at Cape Canaveral and was central to Australia’s position in space research and development.
Over the years from the 1950s to 1970s the Woomera Prohibited Area was pivotal to the race for space. Indeed it was named Woomera for the Aboriginal spear throwing implement due to its synergy with the site’s intended use as a launch site by Group Captain A Pither.
Now a trillion dollar mining deal may see the possibility of lifting a 60 year old ban on mining in the Woomera region. The Woomera Prohibited Area being mined is a definite possibility considering the $35 billion worth of mineral resources in the area.
The South America Chamber of Mines and Energy Chief Executive Jason, Kuchel said that with relaxation of non-military access in the area it would be possible to operate mining and defence activities on a time shared basis in the Woomera Prohibited Area.
Mr Kuchel said that there was need for more exploration but he believed that there would a number of Prominent Hill sized copper and gold mines with uranium and silver being developed in the region over the next two or three decades. The move would create thousands of jobs in the region.
The Defence Minister Stephen Smith yesterday said applications would still be assessed on Foreign Investment Review Board requirements. The government may reject the right for foreign investment in the zone based on national interest grounds.
However the region which was the size of England could be split up into three zones for mining. Of these two would see mining through the year. One of the more sensitive areas where the actual weapon testing took place would not be open to miners for the use of the Amber zone by the military for the duration that the testing took place.