DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Sustainable development and the challenges of the 21 st century Minerals and Energy Mining – not just a hole in the ground Francess Perrett 3/10/2007

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Miracle pit Tanami Desert Mining - not just a hole in the ground

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Talk outline Mining in the NT Current Economic Climate Major NT Resources Major NT Projects Types of Mining Activities Environmental Considerations Mining Legislation Work Groups Departments Functions Avoiding Legacy Issues

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Mining in the NT 1841 Lead Glen Osmond SA 1870 Gold Pine Creek/Adelaide River Planting the first pole on the Overland Telegraph line Underground gold mining

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Current Economic Climate Northern Territory’s economy is growing at 6-7% p.a. Mining and Petroleum sectors are major economic drivers accounting for > 50% of NT growth. Mining and Petroleum sectors comprise 26% of economy. Australian commodity export earnings are expected to rise by 4 per cent to almost $145 billion this financial year.

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Current Economic Climate 6 new mines in last 18 months 4-5 more projects expected to commence operations in next months. The 5 major existing mines have expansions or extensions underway or proposed. 27 new Authorisations for exploration activities issued in the 2006\2007 financial year.

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Major NT Resources Uranium Gold Diamonds Dimension stone and Mineral sands Iron, Bauxite and Manganese Base metals (Copper, Lead, Zinc) Tin, Tantalum, Rare earths and Magnesite

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Major NT Projects Alcan 4th ERA 1st Newmont 4th Gemco 1st McArthur River 4th World Ranking

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Extractive Industry Sand and Gravel Hard Rock Lime

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Exploration Activities Tracks Drill holes Drill benches Costeans Sample bags Camps

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Landscape changes Stockpiles Waste rock dumps Tailings dams and reservoirs Pit void Environmental Considerations

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Landscape changes Stockpiles Waste rock dumps Tailings dams and reservoirs Pit void Environmental Considerations

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Water management Re-use/ release Effect on downstream environment Environmental Considerations

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Environmental Considerations Flora and fauna Threatened species Ecological values Rehabilitation Life of mine planning Self sustaining

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Relocation of Threatened Species

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Mining Legislation The Mining Management Act 2001 (MMA): “ provide[s] for the regulation of mining activities, the management of mining sites and the protection of the safety and health of persons and the environment on mining sites, and for related purposes” Co regulatory Non-prescriptive Continual improvement Best practice Whole of life mine planning Risk assessment approach Environmental consequences Efficient cost effective manner Cover all operational aspects

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Mining Management Plans A description of the mining activities to be carried out Safety, health and environmental issues relevant to the mining activities Plan and costing of closure activities As a basis, the Mining Management Act requires that the Mining Management Plan includes:

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Work Groups Mining and Petroleum Authorisations and Evaluations Authorisations and Evaluations Compliance Environmental Monitoring Unit (EMU) plant engineer equipment engineers electrical engineer chemist ecologist biologist hydrologist geologist spatial scientist research staff audit officers field monitoring team

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Authorisations and Evaluations The Authorisations Team of the Minerals and Energy Group is the initial coordination point for guiding the Northern Territory’s mining operators in: adopting recognised best practice due diligence environmental management workplace safety occupational health radiation safety

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Authorisations and Evaluations The Evaluations Team’s work includes: development of monitoring programs provision of technical advice to support regulation evaluation of monitoring of aspects of the environmental performance of mine sites in the NT under the Mining Management Act

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Environmental Monitoring Unit The Environmental Monitoring Unit is an on the ground unit that physically samples water from selected mine sites in the Northern Territory. The analysis of this data enables: monitoring of mine site environmental performance verification of the mining company supplied environmental data

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Avoiding Legacy Issues The Northern Territory Government is supportive of development projects that result in net material benefit for the community. However the protection of the communities interest and the prevention of environmental harm, particularly in the event of project failure, remain a high priority. One method available to the Government to protect the community interest should a mining project fail to fulfill its obligations is to hold a financial guarantee or security.

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES Mining - not just a hole in the ground THE END