NT: Aboriginal community pays the price of Council's reluctance

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2006
NT: Aboriginal community pays the price of Council's reluctance

A remote Aboriginal community shattered by the deaths of two teenaged petrol sniffers
hasn't used a non-sniffable alternative .. because the local council refused to approve
its sale.

Oenpelli Council has been using Opal fuel to run its whippersnippers .. lawnmowers
and firetruck since November 2005.

But the fuel alternative wasn't available from the town's one petrol station .. because
its council has rejected numerous submissions before finally approving its sale last week.

CEO BILL MEDLEY says the matter was put forward a few times and council members said
NO because they wanted more information.

He says they wanted to make sure Opal can't be sniffed .. and that it won't damage cars.

The 15-hundred strong community .. north of Kakadu National Park .. has been devastated
by the deaths of two youths .. aged 15 and 18.

They suffocated on Saturday .. after getting hold of unleaded petrol inside the local meat works.

AAP RTV tr/wz/tm/cp

KEYWORD: CONTAINER (DARWIN)

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