The annual report by the Independent Monitor for the environmental performance of the McArthur River Mine and the regulatory process of the Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR) has today been publicly released.
The independent monitor travelled to Borroloola yesterday to discuss the report’s findings with the Borroloola community prior to briefing key stakeholders in Darwin today.
The report covers the environmental performance of McArthur River Mining Pty Ltd (MRM) and the performance of DPIR, as the government regulator, over the period October 2015 to September 2016.
DPIR Executive Director Mines Armando Padovan said government was committed to ensuring environmental values were maintained across the Territory and had been working hard to ensure MRM met its environmental obligations under the Mining Management Act.
“The independent monitor commended the department for continuing regular site inspections and developing comprehensive site inspection reports, however there were also areas where it noted the department could make improvements in regulatory practice, particularly in relation to tracking issues observed during site visits,” Mr Padovan said.
“We are committed to continuous improvement in our regulatory role and accept all recommendations made in the report.
“Since the end of the 2016 reporting period the department has taken steps to improve its regulation of mines and has already implemented a number of the independent monitor’s recommendations.
“The department’s regulatory activities include follow-through on MRM’s implementation of the recommendations relating to their performance.”
The independent monitor, along with representatives from DPIR and MRM, have committed to returning to Borroloola in February to present the findings to Traditional Owner groups who weren’t able to attend yesterday’s community meeting.
“The department takes its role as regulator seriously and ensuring the community is properly informed and fully aware of what’s happening at the site is extremely important,” Mr Padovan said.
The appointment of an independent monitor for the life of the mine was a condition of the October 2006 approval of MRM’s open-cut expansion project. The ERIAS Group was appointed the independent monitor for a five-year period in 2013.
Copies of the independent monitor’s Environmental Performance Annual Report and Community Report for 2016, and DPIR and MRM’s response reports are available on the independent monitor’s website, www.mrmindependentmonitor.com.au, and the DPIR website, www.dpir.nt.gov.au.
Media contact: Conor Doherty 0438 455 536