The Northern Territory government has knocked back an application from Energy Resources Australia for a 10-year lease renewal on the Jabiluka Uranium Mine.
In March, 2024, ERA applied for the lease renewal on the mine, which ERA has previously held for 42 years.
On Friday the NT government announced that "based on advice from the Federal Government, the Jabiluka Mineral Lease will not be renewed".
The NT government noted that as the Mineral Lease relates to a prescribed substance, uranium, there are "strict regularity requirements in place", and all proper processes have been followed by the NT and Commonwealth governments to come to the decision.
Mirarr Traditional Owners have long campaigned against uranium mining at the site.
Earlier this month, the Northern Land Council reaffirmed its solidarity with Mirarr Traditional Owners in their opposition to the development of a uranium mine on their sacred Country.
The Council said Traditional Owners "staunchly oppose" uranium mining on Mirarr Country.
"We call on both the Territory and Federal governments to hear the voices of the Traditional Owners and to put an end to the uncertainty," the Council said in a joint statement.
In May this year, the Territory government announced that a Reserved Land area would prevent any future applications for the grant of a mineral title over the Jabiluka area once the lease ceases. The Reserved Land area will come into effect at the cessation of Mineral Lease, due to expire on 11 August 2024, meaning while this Reserved Land area is in place applications for a grant of any mineral title will not be allowed.
The Territory government said any decision about the future use of the site rests with the Federal Government, in consultation with key stakeholders.
On Friday, NT Minister for Mining Mark Monaghan said: "We have gone through a thorough process to ensure that all stakeholder views have been considered in this decision."
"The Federal Government advice, along with the wishes of the Mirarr people, were critical to this process and outcome," he said.
The Australian Conservation Foundation welcomed the decision of the federal and Northern Territory governments to not extend the uranium mining lease.
"This is a responsible decision that ends the threat that has hovered over this very special place for four decades," said ACF's nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney.
"This is a huge win for the Mirarr Traditional Owners and for all who love Kakadu, Australia's largest national park. It is a tribute to people's concern and action over decades. It is a testament in particular to the sustained and unwavering efforts of the Mirarr, led by Yvonne Margarula, to defend their country and culture against the damage that inevitably accompanies uranium mining."