The Australian Greens party voiced out its concerns on Monday that the South Australian government may be rushing too much on the proposed rare earths processing plant in Whyalla following the state's move of giving major project status to the planned $1 billion rare earths facility by Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX: ARU).

SA Greens head Mark Parnell said that the state government should also consider the possibility of radiation threats from the proposed rare earth processing plant in Whyalla as he added that Arafura and SA authorities need to furnish them detailed of the project's supposed environmental impacts.

Mr Parnell said that the Greens are sounding the alarm so everyone in the state and more so the state government would be duly guided by the seemingly exciting economic prospect for South Australia.

He said that they were sounding a cautious note so the government would not "launch into saying this is the greatest thing since sliced bread before we know exactly what's proposed."

Mr Parnell said that as far as the Greens party is concerned, "there are hazards related to the processing of these rare earths, not the least of which is radiation."

Also, a local Whyalla politician has expressed similar concerns on the possible implications of rare earths processing to be started by Arafura Resources as she raised serious concerns on the possibility that dangers could eventually dampen the enthusiasm that gripped the community when news of the billion-dollar investments broke out.

Whyalla councillor Joanne Waters admitted that the her community reacted positively on the prospect of development to be brought by the Arafura investments, stressing that "everything I've heard about it is positive but personally uranium processing, among other processes that will be done, you have to be a little concerned."