Mining

19 September 2003

NT Parks Bill Presents Big Opportunities

Though Mining Our Parks Still a Possibility

The Environment Centre NT has welcomed most aspects of the NT Government's Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Bill. Released publicly today, the Bill follows a negotiation process between the Northern Territory Government and the Aboriginal Land Councils after many of the Northern Territory's National Parks and Reserves were found to be invalidly declared and will see most of the Territory's National Parks become jointly managed by government and traditional owners.

Environment Centre Coordinator Mark Wakeham said today:

"The Parks Bill should increase traditional owner involvement in, and benefits from, the Northern Territory's National Parks and reserves. The Environment Centre NT believes that this will have many benefits- joint management should improve land management practices and bring economic benefits for traditional owners. However we also believe that traditional owners having a greater stake in the Parks estate will potentially lead to the establishment of many more Parks throughout the Territory."

"Less than 5% of the NT is currently in a protected area, which is significantly less than the proportion of land and sea protected in other parts of Australia. The approach taken by the Northern Territory Government and Land Councils already looks likely to lead to expansions to Gregory, Elsey and Davenport Range National Parks."

"Unfortunately the Bill continues to enshrine existing mining rights in National Parks. We believe that any mining activity is incompatible with the conservation objectives of National Parks. The Bill contradicts the pre-election promise of the Martin Government to ban mining in National Parks. This aspect of the bill is also out of step with public opinion: a 1996 Morgan poll found 82% of people thought that mining in wilderness areas was inappropriate. We believe the Northern Territory Government should be phasing out all mining leases in National Parks throughout the Territory" concluded Mr Wakeham.

(1) Australian Heritage Commission, Summary of Market Research into Wilderness and Wild River Issues
     (Canberra 1996)

For further information contact ECNT:
Tel: 08 89811984
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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