Quantitative Ecological Risk Assessment of the Magela Creek Floodplain in Kakadu National Park, Australia: Comparing Point Source Risks from the Ranger Uranium Mine to Diffuse Landscape-Scale Risks

Non-mining landscape-scale risks pose significantly greater ecological threats to the Magela Creek floodplain in Kakadu National Park, Australia, compared to point source risks from the nearby Ranger uranium mine. A Quantitative Ecological Risk Assessment (QERA) identified weeds, particularly Para grass (Urocloa mutica), as the dominant risk due to its rapid spread and extensive impact on biodiversity. The study also evaluated risks from feral pigs, unmanaged dry season fires, and potential saltwater intrusion due to climate change. While mining-related contaminants like uranium, manganese, magnesium, and sulfate were assessed, their ecological impact was found to be several orders of magnitude lower than that of non-mining threats. This research underscores the need for equivalent scrutiny and investment in managing landscape-scale risks alongside point source mining risks.

Bayliss, P., van Dam, R. A., & Bartolo, R. E. (2012). Quantitative Ecological Risk Assessment of the Magela Creek Floodplain in Kakadu National Park, Australia: Comparing Point Source Risks from the Ranger Uranium Mine to Diffuse Landscape-Scale Risks. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 18(1), 115–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2012.632290