Other Issues

10 February 2005

Toxic problems across NT demonstrate urgent need for an EPA

The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory (ECNT) says the growing catalogue of toxic problems across the NT, and the push for more and faster urban and industrial development, highlight the urgent need for the creation on an independent EPA for the NT.

ECNT Coordinator Peter Robertson said the recent exposure of serious toxic legacy problems at the Darwin Waterfront development and Mt Todd gold mine were just the tip of the iceberg in the NT.

“ Neither projects have been, or were, subject to appropriate environmental impact assessments. Many other projects are in the same boat, for example the massive expansion of Alcan’s operations at Gove, the Trans-Territory gas pipeline, the Glyde Point industrial estate and various new mining and aquaculture projects.

“ The existing bodies and processes that are supposed to ‘balance development and the environment’ are incapable of addressing the scale and complexity of the issues and are unable to stand up to the political pressure to rapidly approve large developments.

“ For many months now a Parliamentary Committee has been inquiring into the need for an EPA in the NT. Its time for the Government to bite the bullet and announce that a strong, independent and well resourced EPA will be created.

“ Without such a body, the public can have no confidence that the accelerating pace of development will not lead to many more serious environmental, and community health and safety, problems.

“ ECNT welcomes the fact that the CLP Opposition has announced its policy of creating an independent Environmental Protection Commission and reforming the Development Consent Authority.

“ If the Government is worried that its budget can’t afford the cost of creating a well resourced EPA then it should just look at the $20 million it, or the NT taxpayers, will have to pay up to fix the toxic mess at Mt Todd, which could have been avoided if there was a proper assessment and regulatory framework in the NT.

“ And that is just one of many similar cases illustrating that any ‘savings’ generated by not having an EPA are simply a false economy that will present future generations with a huge toxic cost burden.”

For further information contact ECNT:
Phone: 08 8981 1984
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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