The now-defunct Ranger uranium mine is in the Alligator River Region of the Northern Territory, eight kilometres east of the township of Jabiru. Photo: File.
Reforms to improve the Northern Territory’s (NT) environmental management of mining activities and provide greater certainty for industry have become law.
Under the reforms, environmental impacts are managed by a new legislative framework based on the risk of the mining activity to the environment, with an outcome-focused approach to regulation.
Existing compliance and enforcement powers under the Environment Protection Act are also extended and impacts previously managed through multiple regulatory approvals are incorporated under one licence.
“The new legislative framework is set to implement a modern, streamlined and effective system to support the ecologically sustainable development of the mining industry in the Territory,” NT Environment, Climate Change and Water Security Minister Lauren Moss said. “It will also increase transparency and accountability of the regulator and mining operators, delivering stronger environmental outcomes.
“These proposed reforms are critical to ensure we have a robust regulatory system in place for the sustainable development of our mineral resources, thereby protecting the Territory’s unique environment.”
NT Mining and Industry Minister Nicole Manison said the changes meant Territorians could have confidence mining took place sustainably with strong environmental protections in force.
“These reforms ensure we have a streamlined environmental assessments system that will give greater certainty to the mining industry and streamline processes to faster approvals,” she said.
“These changes will help make the Northern Territory a more attractive place for mining investment with a modernised environmental system.”
A second bill was also introduced to the Territory’s parliament this week, to provide a new regulatory framework for the Mining Remediation Fund and the payment of the mining remediation levy to underpin the Government’s commitment to the remediation of legacy mines.
The NT Government said these combined reforms placed the Territory at the forefront of environmental management of mining and legacy mines.
Worth more than $6 billion and employing more than 5000 people, the NT’s mining industry represents a priority economic activity as the largest source of the Territory’s revenue.
