A GROUP that believes Alkane Resources' Dubbo Zirconia Project poses possible health risks will host a public forum later this month.
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Uranium Free NSW has invited speakers to a community discussion on the risks associated with radioactive exploration and mining.
Yesterday David Mould, one of the organisers, stood in Dubbo's main street and handed out leaflets inviting local residents to attend.
Earlier Mr Mould had posted on social media site Facebook a notice that there would be a "meet outside Alkane office to raise awareness of the upcoming radioactive destruction planned for Dubbo".
When the Daily Liberal spoke with Mr Mould about 1pm yesterday he was the sole person who had turned up. But he said the reaction he had received had so far been "surprisingly positive".
"When I started to raise awareness of this I was pretty much expecting to get run out of town," he said.
Mr Mould said yesterday's goal was to "get people talking about the issue".
"The only information we are getting is from people with a stake in the business," he said.
"We're inviting some people to the cultural centre who are going to give us some of the less financially-oriented facts."
Those listed on the forum's line-up included environmental engineer Dr Gavin Mudd, who specialised in the mining sector, the Central West Environment Council's Bev Smiles and Nat Lowrey, a campaigner on rare earths and the impacts of radiation on health.
Despite Alkane Resources going on record saying it had no interest in mining uranium at the site and had only lodged an expression of interest to prevent a third party laying claim to the site, Mr Mould was not convinced the enterprise was risk-free.
"My main concern is the amount of uranium that's coming out of the ground," he said.
"The way they're going to store it doesn't mean they won't use it in the future.
"It would suit them if the government would allow them to sell it. I'm concerned it will be uranium mining by stealth."
Mr Mould urged members of the public to attend the forum at the Western Plains Cultural Centre at 6pm on October 23 to listen and make up their own minds.
"I would say listen to what the council and Alkane have to say but also listen to what people who don't stand to make money from it have to say," he said.
