The Environment Centre NT (ECNT) applauds the decision made today by the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment & the Arts, Marion Scrymgour, to not recommend approval of the McArthur River Mine Open Cut Project. 

ECNT’s Freshwater Campaigner, Dr Gary Scott said: “It was clear throughout the environmental assessment process that this project would have had a long-lasting and detrimental impact on the McArthur River and surrounding environments.

“Moving rivers and mining their beds in the middle of a floodplain, as this project proposed to do, is not an acceptable practice in this day and age, especially in the challenging tropical environment. Northern Australia’s tropical rivers are internationally unique and deserving of significant protection from such destructive activities.

“More appropriate development activities that will protect valuable aquatic and marine ecosystems should be encouraged.

“ECNT therefore supports the proposal by the Mabunji Aboriginal

Resource Association to create a Marine Protected Area at the mouth of the McArthur River and the Sir Edward Pellew Islands. This could help promote sustainable tourism and fishing and other more appropriate types of development for the Borroloola region.

“The Minister’s far-sighted decision demonstrates a willingness to listen to community concerns and that the NT Government is prepared to stand by its election policy to look after Territory rivers.

“Industry proponents will also have to take note that they must ensure

that their development proposals meet acceptable environmental standards, that they undertake comprehensive scientific analysis of environmental impacts and that they consult fully with affected communities”, concluded Dr Scott.

ECNT will be holding a public meeting on Thursday 2 March at Brown’s Mart Theatre in Darwin (7.30pm start) to discuss the implications of this decision for environmental protection in the Northern Territory.