Appeal against WA Mulga Rock uranium mine

An appeal has been lodged against the Environmental Protection Authority's recommendation to approve the proposed Mulga Rock uranium mine in Western Australia's Goldfields region.

The appeal was lodged on Monday by the Conservation Council of WA, the Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth Australia and the Anti Nuclear Alliance of WA.

The grounds for appeal include environmental factors for flora and fauna, mine closure, tailings management and impacts to water.

Vimy Resources Limited proposes transporting uranium oxide concentrate from its Mulga Rock project, about 240km northeast of Kalgoorlie, by road to Port Adelaide in sealed steel drums within a secure shipping container.

Following the EPA's recommendation with 14 conditions, including having environmental and Aboriginal heritage management plans in place, it is now up to state and federal environment ministers to decide if the project will go ahead.

But CCWA campaigner Mia Pepper says the proposed mine sits in the Yellow Sand Plain Priority Community, which supports rare and endangered species.

"If this mine were to proceed it would take 15 million litres of water a day from the environment and clear over 3000 hectares of native bushland and important habitat for 93 reptile species, 28 bird species and 10 mammal/marsupial species," she said.

"This uranium mine would leave behind a legacy of 30 million tonnes of radioactive tailings and mine waste that would pose a threat to the environment for thousands of years."

Earlier this month, the EPA rejected Cameco's plan to mine uranium at its Yeelirrie project, 70km southeast of Wiluna, because the project posed unacceptable risks to subterranean fauna.