for 45 years. In 1975, an Aboriginal town council took over responsibility for running the township of Oenpelli. Small-scale gold mining started in the region in the 1920s at Imarlkba near Barramundi Creek and at Moline in the 1930s. However, the discovery of uranium at the headlands of the South Alligator River in 1953 started the mining industries. By 1957, 13 uranium mines were operating, employing 150 people including at Coronation Hill. Following the discovery of large uranium mines at Jabiluka, Ranger, Nabarlek, and Koongarra, the federal government established the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry otherwise known as the Fox Inquiry which recommended the development of the Ranger site, consideration of the other two sites, and establishment of Jabiru as a support centre. Royalties are paid to the traditional owners in compensation for the loss of their country. See also List of rivers of Northern Territory References External links Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage Introduction to the Alligator Rivers Region Kakadu National Park East Alligator River page Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage page on the South Alligator River Northern Territory Visitors Bureau page on Kakadu and Alligator Rivers tours CSIRO publication on Alligator Rivers birdlife Australian Government culture and recreation site about Kakadu Department of the Environment and Heritage article on Kakadu Alex Barlow and Marji Hill editors Encyclopedia of Australia's Aboriginal People Macmillan Education Australia 2000 accessed through MacquarieNet Online Arnhem Land Rivers of the Northern Territory Important Bird Areas of the Northern Territory