Dear Ms Allen Re: Submission on McArthur River Mine Open Cut Project Public Environmental Report. The McArthur River Mine open cut project, as outlined in the previously rejected Environmental Impact Statement and in the current Public Environmental Report, should not be approved. There were many sound scientific reasons why the EPA Program and the Minister for Environment rejected this proposal back in February including: - inadequate baseline and monitoring studies conducted by the company thus far. - strong concerns about the stability of the proposed diversion channels for both the McArthur River and Barney Creek, particularly concerns about erosion and the difficulties of revegetating the new channel. - potential impacts on the endangered Freshwater sawfish and migratory bird species such as the White-browed robin. - concerns about the ongoing leakage of contaminants into surrounding waterways from the tailings dam and waste rock dump. - the long-term risk posed by the mine when mining ends 25 years from now. The massive open pit will be left as a void in the middle of the current river channel, which is itself located on a floodplain. The fatal problems identified in earlier reports and submissions that recommended against the original mine plan HAVE NOT CHANGED TO ANY SIGNIFICANT DEGREE in the amended proposal! The mining company has also acknowledged that its consultation process with Aboriginal Traditional Owners living downstream from the mine and in the Sir Edward Pellew Islands has been inadequate. Many Aboriginal people in the Borroloola area remain opposed to the open cut project. For all of these reasons, I strongly urge the NT Government to not allow Xstrata to proceed with the open cut project as outlined in its two environmental reports. There is far too much at stake for this vital river and marine environment and for the communities that rely on it.

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