Mr MITCHELL - 1996-05-15
Given the government's long-standing commitment to the mining industry, what steps have been taken to encourage new mining ventures in the Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. A few examples of continued activity in the mining sector are the recent commencement of a new goldmine at Brocks Creek, just south of Darwin. Also, of course, on Saturday week, the opening of the Tanami Desert joint venture will take place and more goldmining activity will be under way in that area.
Significantly, in a further development, I have today given approval for Energy Resources of Australia to mine the Ranger ore body No 3 in the existing Ranger project area. The approval for ore body No 3 will permit Ranger to proceed with the development of a new open-cut uranium mine. This will extend the life of the Ranger project by 13 years, while generating additional export income of about $3000m. People who are familiar with the foreign debt levels with which this country has been burdened by the previous federal Labor administration will no doubt welcome the additional income that the activity at Ranger will generate. Ranger ore body No 3 is located within a 43 ha site approximately 1500 m north of the main pit, which ceased operation a year or so ago. A total of 82 million tonnes will be mined, containing 18.5 million tonnes of ore, from which about 56 600 t of uranium will be produced. Production is expected to commence in July next year, and processing will be undertaken using the existing processing plant. An additional 57 on-site jobs will be generated. Using indices of the activity generated by on-site mine jobs, my Department of Mines and Energy suggests that some 140 jobs will be created overall in the service industries working with the mining sector as a result of the new activity at Ranger.
Development of the ore body will ensure the continued expansion of the Territory's important uranium industry. In approving the project, I was satisfied that ERA should not be required to prepare a separate environmental impact statement. The grounds for not requiring ERA to undertake an additional EIS included the fact that ore body No 3 was included in the original EIS which applied to Ranger's current mining and milling activities and the relevant approvals following the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry headed by Justice Fox in 1977. Detailed additional environmental information, contained in the application to mine ore body No 3, was taken into consideration. Ongoing environmental assessment and management, aimed at minimising environmental impacts, will be achieved through the supervision of the Office of the Supervising Scientist and the Northern Land Council, and the monitoring and regulation of the Department of Mines and Energy.
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Honourable members would be aware of the high degree of efficiency and the level of environmental adherence that has been achieved at the Ranger mine. It is nice to see the Leader of the Opposition nodding in agreement with those comments. It is recognised as having undertaken a very responsible mining activity in what could be considered to be the most stringently monitored mine in the world.
Mr Bailey: It is better than Gemco's record on Groote Eylandt.
Mr REED: It is interesting to hear the anti-mining-industry comments by the member for Wanguri, who cannot see the value of this very important announcement today and has to find a negative aspect on which to comment. He does not have the ability to recognise the importance of this project, the economic development that it will generate and the jobs that it will create for Territorians. It will produce 140 jobs. However, he has to find a negative aspect to it. He should be ashamed of himself.
Government approvals to ERA included alterations to Ranger's authorisation under the Uranium Mining (Environment Control) Act which controls the ongoing operation of uranium mining. The decision to approve mining of ore body No 3 is supported by the Office of the Supervising Scientist, the Northern Land Council and the Department of Mines and Energy. The approvals granted by the NT government reflect the enormous achievement ERA has made in developing, and adhering to, some of the world's most stringent environmental controls on mining. Indeed, I hope all members are aware that the company has won national awards for this achievement. I hope members are aware also of the significance of this announcement today, and the fact that it will create a further 140 jobs for Territorians. The mine will earn $3000m in export income.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. A few examples of continued activity in the mining sector are the recent commencement of a new goldmine at Brocks Creek, just south of Darwin. Also, of course, on Saturday week, the opening of the Tanami Desert joint venture will take place and more goldmining activity will be under way in that area.
Significantly, in a further development, I have today given approval for Energy Resources of Australia to mine the Ranger ore body No 3 in the existing Ranger project area. The approval for ore body No 3 will permit Ranger to proceed with the development of a new open-cut uranium mine. This will extend the life of the Ranger project by 13 years, while generating additional export income of about $3000m. People who are familiar with the foreign debt levels with which this country has been burdened by the previous federal Labor administration will no doubt welcome the additional income that the activity at Ranger will generate. Ranger ore body No 3 is located within a 43 ha site approximately 1500 m north of the main pit, which ceased operation a year or so ago. A total of 82 million tonnes will be mined, containing 18.5 million tonnes of ore, from which about 56 600 t of uranium will be produced. Production is expected to commence in July next year, and processing will be undertaken using the existing processing plant. An additional 57 on-site jobs will be generated. Using indices of the activity generated by on-site mine jobs, my Department of Mines and Energy suggests that some 140 jobs will be created overall in the service industries working with the mining sector as a result of the new activity at Ranger.
Development of the ore body will ensure the continued expansion of the Territory's important uranium industry. In approving the project, I was satisfied that ERA should not be required to prepare a separate environmental impact statement. The grounds for not requiring ERA to undertake an additional EIS included the fact that ore body No 3 was included in the original EIS which applied to Ranger's current mining and milling activities and the relevant approvals following the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry headed by Justice Fox in 1977. Detailed additional environmental information, contained in the application to mine ore body No 3, was taken into consideration. Ongoing environmental assessment and management, aimed at minimising environmental impacts, will be achieved through the supervision of the Office of the Supervising Scientist and the Northern Land Council, and the monitoring and regulation of the Department of Mines and Energy.
Page 1345
Honourable members would be aware of the high degree of efficiency and the level of environmental adherence that has been achieved at the Ranger mine. It is nice to see the Leader of the Opposition nodding in agreement with those comments. It is recognised as having undertaken a very responsible mining activity in what could be considered to be the most stringently monitored mine in the world.
Mr Bailey: It is better than Gemco's record on Groote Eylandt.
Mr REED: It is interesting to hear the anti-mining-industry comments by the member for Wanguri, who cannot see the value of this very important announcement today and has to find a negative aspect on which to comment. He does not have the ability to recognise the importance of this project, the economic development that it will generate and the jobs that it will create for Territorians. It will produce 140 jobs. However, he has to find a negative aspect to it. He should be ashamed of himself.
Government approvals to ERA included alterations to Ranger's authorisation under the Uranium Mining (Environment Control) Act which controls the ongoing operation of uranium mining. The decision to approve mining of ore body No 3 is supported by the Office of the Supervising Scientist, the Northern Land Council and the Department of Mines and Energy. The approvals granted by the NT government reflect the enormous achievement ERA has made in developing, and adhering to, some of the world's most stringent environmental controls on mining. Indeed, I hope all members are aware that the company has won national awards for this achievement. I hope members are aware also of the significance of this announcement today, and the fact that it will create a further 140 jobs for Territorians. The mine will earn $3000m in export income.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016