Northern Territory Minister makes right call in recommending against McArthur River mine
Media Release
23 February 2006
The Wilderness Society today congratulated the Northern Territory Environment Minister and her Government for recommending against the expansion of the McArthur River zinc mine operations in the Gulf of Carpentaria, because of environmental risks.
‘NT Environment Minister Marion Scrymgour has looked at the science and correctly judged that she should recommend against this environmentally destructive project,’ said Dr. Barry Traill, Northern Australian Campaigner with The Wilderness Society.
‘This is an excellent decision by Ms Scrymgour, and her government. The proposed McArthur River mine expansion involved diverting approximately 5 kilometres of the intact MacArthur River in the NT’s Gulf Country.’
‘The environmental and the economic benefits of keeping our tropical rivers healthy far outweighs the short term benefits of mining them, said Dr Traill.
‘Queensland in particular should take notice of the NT decision. There are similar large proposals to mine bauxite along Cape York’s Wild Rivers. Mining along these rivers will also cause irreversible damage,’ said Mr. Lyndon Schneiders, Queensland Campaign Manager.
‘We hope Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, will follow the lead of his Northern Territory colleagues and work to protect Queensland Wild Rivers from equally destructive mining practices,’ said Mr. Schneiders.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Barry Traill
Woodlands Ecologist
Created: 23 Feb 2006 | Last updated: 23 Feb 2006
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