Mining

Don't muck up the McArthur - In Brief

The Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Governments recently approved the expansion of the McArthur River mine. The expansion involves the mining of the existing river bed via a massive open-pit mine and the construction of a new 5.5km channel.

The proposal will potentially have serious, long term and irreversible impacts on the McArthur River – a major tropical river in the NT’s Gulf region - including the effects of sedimentation and heavy metal pollution on the river and on the rich downstream marine environments of the Gulf of Carpentaria. There is evidence the new mine would also harm the survival prospects of the McArthur River’s population of the IUCN Red Book ‘critically endangered’ Freshwater sawfish.

Protestors spell out their message to the NT Government outside Parliament House, October 2006.

The River is extremely important to the four Indigenous language groups that share and live along the River, the Gurdanji, Mara, Garrawa and Yanyuwa. In recent months the groups have become increasingly united and vocal in their opposition, not to the mine, but to the river being moved. They feel they have been ignored and left out of an approval process that had no respect for their culture and spiritual connection with the land and river - what they describe as their gudgiga - their songs and stories.

Unfortunately, both governments, whilst acknowledging concerns, have chosen to approve the proposal on the grounds that any issues can be managed. The Traditional Owners reject this, as to move the River would effect their dreamtime stories (spiritual link with country). Environmentally we reject it, due to the lack of evidence supporting the proponents claims and the high and catastrophic nature of the risk involved in diverting a tropical river.

The current campaign is essentially a pro-river campaign with the main objective being to stop the 5.5km diversion of the McArthur River. The campaign has been a joint effort between environment groups and the Traditional Owners from the area.

The campaign is continuing, as neither the ECNT or the Traditional owners are accepting the NT and Australian Government’s decsion. The ECNT is supporting the Traditional Owners who are challening the NT Government’s decision in the Supreme Court, and continuing to campaign against the approval.

A web blog has been established to assist with the camapign, latest updates and additonal information can be found at http://mcarthurriver.wordpress.com/

The McArthur River

“The McArthur River is the lifeblood of this part of the Gulf, a major river system flowing through the country of four main language groups before it reaches Yanyuwa country – coastal areas up to 17 km inland, the river mouth, mangroves, saline flats, seagrass beds and Sir Edward Pellew Islands. The McArthur River is an extensive river with a myriad of channels branching from the main river. The massive volume of the McArthur River flows centrally onto the Sir Edward Pellew Islands. When it is in flood, this river is up to 4km wide, and fresh water can be tasted 10km out to sea at Centre Island. Five years ago, the river flow washed cane toads out to all the islands except North Island in the big flood that year.  Whatever enters the McArthur River upstream, flows downstream out to these islands.”  ( Stephen Johnson, Yanyuwa Elder).

The McArthur River System is one of the largest in Northern Australia, it is a complex mix of fresh, saline and hypersaline environments. The topography of the McArthur River Valley is predominantly flat, or gentle rolling alluvial floodplains with grasslands or open woodlands intersected by hilly country in four places. For most of the year the McArthur River is confined to a single channel, entrenched 10m below the surrounding landscape, this overflows to form multiple channels during the wetter months. The last 96km of the River are susceptible to tidal influences, with the final 45km made up of flat coastal plain.

The McArthur River has a catchment of 20,000 square km and flows for 300km, almost centrally through the full length of the catchment, with a mean annual flow of 4,200 million cubic metres. This represents 36% of water flow from the NT’s Gulf Rivers. The pattern of flow is closely linked to rainfall with over 90% of runoff occurring between December and April. When the River is not flowing, surface water is restricted to waterholes and lagoons within main streams and on floodplains, with minor spring-fed flows arising intermittently along the River course. These waterbodies form essential refugia during the dry season for both aquatic and terrestrial animals.

Proposed Expansion

MIM Holdings announced their intention to expand their McArthur River Mine lead/zinc/silver operations on the 11th February 2003. The mine is currently an underground operation with the orebody directly underneath the McArthur River. If the expansion proceeds Xstrata plan to dig an open cut pit in the current location of the McArthur River, and re-route the river over a section of about 5.5 kilometres. This would require constructing a huge channel and building a 30 metre high wall around the open cut pit.

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Environmental Issues

The major environmental impacts of the proposed expansion are likely to include:

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ECNT's View of the Mining Expansion

ECNT is extremely concerned about the likely environmental and social impacts from one of the most destructive mining proposals ever seen in northern Australia. If the project continues to proceed as approved by the NT and Australian Governments, it would have devastating impacts on the McArthur River and the Traditional Owners, leaving a legacy of destruction and pollution from the mine site to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

We strongly oppose any proposal to divert the River.

Traditional Owners Views on the Expansion

Traditional owners had no right of veto over the original mining proposal at McArthur River and the company failed to negotiate an agreement or royalties following development of the project. While Traditional Owners have a Native Title claim over the mine site, they still have no formal veto rights over the new project. On meeting with many of the traditional owners in Borroloola it was clear that there were many concerns about the possible impacts of the project. In 2003, Harry Lansen, a senior traditional owner for the mine site opposed the expansion on ABC television's Stateline program saying:

"It is no good. I will be sick if they cut the place, because my spirit is there. All my songs are across the river. I don't want to see that thing happen in the McArthur River."

"The Yanyuwa people in Borroloola are getting their islands back after 29 years (through a land claim settlement), only to have their river taken away. McArthur River Mining has not consulted Yanyuwa people or other Aboriginal language groups downstream of the mine. The NT Government must protect the rights of economically impoverished indigenous people and their country".

Traditional Owners walking to Parliament House 16 October 2006

On Tuesday 25th September the Borroloola Traditional Elders Group (BTEG), representing the Traditional Owners, released these statements after meeting with Chris Natt, Minister for Mines and Energy, Northern Territory Government.

"The BTEG are united in their position that the McArthur River, Surprise Creek and Barney Creek must not be shifted from their current position"

"The Gurdanji people know that our gudgiga, our songs and stories, will be destroyed by the shifting of our creeks and rivers"

"The Yanyuwa people know that the McArthur River and our coast and islands are already being polluted with heavy metals. The pollution will only get worse if they shift the rivers."

More Information

A web blog has been established to assist the campaign, latest updates and additional information can be found at http://mcarthurriver.wordpress.com

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