WANT TO LEASE A DESERT?

A vast chunk of Australia's ocher desert - about the size of England - may soon be up for lease. The South Australia site includes Woomera, a largely abandoned rocket-launching range, and Maralinga, one of the nuclear test grounds used by the British in the 1950s.

The Woomera Development Group, a consortium of 13 companies, wants to refurbish the site as an international test range.