The NT Mining Regulator (DITT) is failing Territorians on McArthur River Mine. The latest Independent Monitor’s Report, which was quietly released in early January 2023, reveals that DITT is doing a disgraceful job of regulating McArthur River Mine.
DITT has completely failed to appoint key independent oversight panels recommended almost 5 years ago by the NT Environmental Protection Authority (NTEPA).
This means that one of Australia’s most toxic mines is operating without any effective oversight.
The NT Mining Regulator (DITT) is failing Territorians on McArthur River Mine. The latest Independent Monitor’s Report, which was quietly released in early January 2023, reveals that DITT is doing a disgraceful job of regulating McArthur River Mine.
DITT has completely failed to appoint key independent oversight panels recommended almost 5 years ago by the NT Environmental Protection Authority (NTEPA).
This means that one of Australia’s most toxic mines is operating without any effective oversight.
The Independent Monitor’s latest report shows a series of failures by the NT mining regulator, including that DITT has failed to establish:
- Community Reference Group
- Independent Panel of expert on the waste rock dump (NOEF)
- Independent Panel of experts on the tailings storage facility
- Independent Panel of experts on the closure to review the risk of failure of the mine levee wall and assess the trajectory for closure options
Other issues include:
- Delays on key environmental reports
- Failure to consult nominated NT and Commonwealth agencies
- Failure to make reports available to the public
This has serious implications for effective management of the mine and its impacts. Vital reports have been delayed and timeframes have blown out for key actions recommended by NTEPA – actions that are crucial to protect Territorians and the Territory environment. It is unclear if DITT intends to ever establish the required independent oversight panels.
Executive Director of ECNT, Kirsty Howey:
“The NT Mining Regulator is an embarrassing failure and should be stripped of all responsibility for mining regulation. By shirking their duty to establish key oversight panels for McArthur River Mine they are failing Territorians, and failing to do the things the NTEPA said were needed almost five years ago.
“How can we trust DITT to responsibly regulate McArthur River Mine when they are incapable of carrying out basic recommendations from NTEPA years after they were made. This is at best incompetence, and at worst a deliberate lack of transparency.
What this means is McArthur River Mine is now operating without effective oversight from the NT Mining Regulator. This is particularly alarming given the toxic history of the mine and the potential for more disastrous environmental and human impacts.”