Mr BALDWIN - 1994-11-30
In the light of increased interest in the Territory's mineral and petroleum industries, what steps has the government taken to further expand exploration opportunities in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am delighted to provide that information to the member for Victoria River and other members. Since the appointment of a new secretary of the Department of Mines and Energy, Mr Fuller, the department has been assessing the means by which it can better provide services to the mining industry in the Northern Territory. Members would be aware that the provision of geological information is of particular importance and great
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assistance to mining companies, in particular during the exploration phase. Indeed, it is vital to the exploration activities of mining companies. In that regard, the department has decided to appoint more geologists and that is being done within its current budget. By determining what services are the most essential to the department's operations and the industry's needs, decisions have been taken not to fill some vacancies in some areas of the department and to redirect those resources to areas where they will better assist the industry.
Part of that commitment is the decision which has been taken to increase, by 4 or possibly 5, the number of geologists working in the department. There are 23 currently, and they have been working on particular projects. In relation to the changes that are being put in place, some geologists who were based in Alice Springs previously have requested a transfer to Darwin. Currently, the department is advertising Australia-wide for staff to fill the additional geologist positions. Existing vacancies in Darwin and the central Australian region, the latter to be based in Alice Springs, hopefully will be filled in the near future. I understand that a number of applications have been received for these positions, and that is heartening news. I expect that this investment in expert staff will be of great assistance to the mining industry in the Northern Territory. Hopefully, we will see an increase in exploration and mining activity in the Northern Territory over the next few years. Certainly, that is the intention behind those initiatives.
Essentially, the increased geological effort in the northern region will allow government to complete the geological mapping of the McArthur River Basin which stretches from Wollogorang in the Gulf of Carpentaria to Milingimbi in Arnhem Land. It is a highly prospective area. In relation to those areas that lie on Aboriginal lands, I met recently with the Director of the Northern Land Council to discuss means of improving access to Aboriginal land and providing better information to traditional owners who are interested in exploration activity on their land. That meeting was productive. It will result in joint activities between my department and the Northern Land Council to provide more information to traditional owners and hopefully gain mining companies improved access to Aboriginal lands in the northern part of the Northern Territory.
The department has devoted the lion's share of its survey budget in recent years to the McArthur River Basin. Following the rearrangement of positions in the department and the employment of additional geologists, the increased commitment will allow that program to be completed by 1998, which is some years earlier than anticipated. In turn, it will enable additional activity, including the collection of geological information, in the southern region. There has been a concentrated effort in Tennant Creek and areas to the south-west of Alice Springs. That work should be completed next year. We will then be able to pursue the imperatives set by the industry in relation to work around the Victoria River area where we do not have a great deal of information. We will be seeking to put in place priorities for geological survey in that area. A number of other areas have been requested. The Petermann/Musgrave Range region in the south-western corner of the Territory is an area of great potential also, but there again there are questions of access to Aboriginal land.
Thus, in answer to the member for Victoria River's question, much is being done. Additional resources in terms of geologist positions are being put in place. That willenhance further the information that we can provide to the industry and hopefully see a vast increase in exploration and mining activity in the future.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am delighted to provide that information to the member for Victoria River and other members. Since the appointment of a new secretary of the Department of Mines and Energy, Mr Fuller, the department has been assessing the means by which it can better provide services to the mining industry in the Northern Territory. Members would be aware that the provision of geological information is of particular importance and great
Page 364
assistance to mining companies, in particular during the exploration phase. Indeed, it is vital to the exploration activities of mining companies. In that regard, the department has decided to appoint more geologists and that is being done within its current budget. By determining what services are the most essential to the department's operations and the industry's needs, decisions have been taken not to fill some vacancies in some areas of the department and to redirect those resources to areas where they will better assist the industry.
Part of that commitment is the decision which has been taken to increase, by 4 or possibly 5, the number of geologists working in the department. There are 23 currently, and they have been working on particular projects. In relation to the changes that are being put in place, some geologists who were based in Alice Springs previously have requested a transfer to Darwin. Currently, the department is advertising Australia-wide for staff to fill the additional geologist positions. Existing vacancies in Darwin and the central Australian region, the latter to be based in Alice Springs, hopefully will be filled in the near future. I understand that a number of applications have been received for these positions, and that is heartening news. I expect that this investment in expert staff will be of great assistance to the mining industry in the Northern Territory. Hopefully, we will see an increase in exploration and mining activity in the Northern Territory over the next few years. Certainly, that is the intention behind those initiatives.
Essentially, the increased geological effort in the northern region will allow government to complete the geological mapping of the McArthur River Basin which stretches from Wollogorang in the Gulf of Carpentaria to Milingimbi in Arnhem Land. It is a highly prospective area. In relation to those areas that lie on Aboriginal lands, I met recently with the Director of the Northern Land Council to discuss means of improving access to Aboriginal land and providing better information to traditional owners who are interested in exploration activity on their land. That meeting was productive. It will result in joint activities between my department and the Northern Land Council to provide more information to traditional owners and hopefully gain mining companies improved access to Aboriginal lands in the northern part of the Northern Territory.
The department has devoted the lion's share of its survey budget in recent years to the McArthur River Basin. Following the rearrangement of positions in the department and the employment of additional geologists, the increased commitment will allow that program to be completed by 1998, which is some years earlier than anticipated. In turn, it will enable additional activity, including the collection of geological information, in the southern region. There has been a concentrated effort in Tennant Creek and areas to the south-west of Alice Springs. That work should be completed next year. We will then be able to pursue the imperatives set by the industry in relation to work around the Victoria River area where we do not have a great deal of information. We will be seeking to put in place priorities for geological survey in that area. A number of other areas have been requested. The Petermann/Musgrave Range region in the south-western corner of the Territory is an area of great potential also, but there again there are questions of access to Aboriginal land.
Thus, in answer to the member for Victoria River's question, much is being done. Additional resources in terms of geologist positions are being put in place. That willenhance further the information that we can provide to the industry and hopefully see a vast increase in exploration and mining activity in the future.
Page 365
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016