“Some of the major issues include: clearing of large areas of coastal vegetation; the potential for introduction or spread of foreign pests and diseases; impacts on groundwater; impacts on endangered turtle breeding sites and a number of other endangered species; problems with erosion and mine site rehabilitation (the area was recently hard hit by cyclone Ingrid); generation of potentially dangerous radioactive materials (e.g. uranium and thorium) that occur as part of the mineral sands deposits, and; potential for chemical contamination (including oil and diesel).

“The Territory government owes it to the local Indigenous community and the wider public to subject this project to very close scrutiny and, if it is approved, ensure it is subject to stringent environmental conditions including monitoring and auditing.

“Mineral sands mines have a bad record around Australia for their environmental degradation of fragile coastal environments and under no circumstances should this proposal be taken lightly and rubber stamped.”