The River Xstrata wants to mine!

Although I can’t  take everyone to the River I will try and bring the River to you. Watch the video below for a look at the McArthur River, a winding river within a green floodplain, surrounded  by a dry landscape. And remember this River floods in the wet.

The video is silent and 2minutes long.

mcarthur river   xstrata   northern territory

Mr Timothy

This article and image has removed out of respect for Mr Timothy

mcarthur river   xstrata   northern territory   yanyuwa

Freedom of Information

Government transparency is not cheap in the Northern Territory. Unfortunately the public is being denied access to key documents, such as the Mine Management Plan.  The government maintains the document is the property of Xstrata and they do not have the power to release it. A fairly pathetic excuse for a second term government with a massive majority. Makes you wonder who’s running the show, the Martin Government or Xstrata?

This story today (below) from the ABC shows the price of information. The Environment Centre Northern Territory also made an FOI request but could not afford the price of transparency, some $560. 

NT demands $600 for FOI request for McArthur River mine
The company behind the controversial McArthur River mine expansion near Boroloola is objecting to a Freedom of Information request for the document that sets out what it has agreed to.

Xstrata and the Territory Government signed off on the Mine Management Plan, which governs the conversion of the McArthur River Mine to open cut.

The move requires diverting five kilometres of the McArthur River, something that is opposed by traditional owners and environmental groups.

The Territory Government is asking for more than $600 to process the request for the document and says the fee is neither exorbitant or unreasonable.

The ABC’s application was made under the Territory’s new Freedom of Information laws which the Government has said would guarantee open and transparent decision making.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1835193.htm

mcarthur river    xstrata    northern territory

Howard on ‘environmentally sustainable fashion’

Dug out this story courtesy of ABC. It can be read or heard at http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1755750.htm

It deals with The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard,  lobbying the NT Chief Minister, Clare Martin to hurry up and approve the mine.

It would be great to hear a definition for a ‘environmentally sustainable fashion’, it might have something to do with the PM’s trackydaks but it has nothing to do with moving rivers, which is neither sustainable or fashionable.

Oh, and the local people are still waiting for the benefits almost 10 years after the mine started.

mcarthur river    xstrata   northern territory    john howard

Howard supports diversion (destruction) of McArthur River

We heard about this last year, but it is relevant in the context of the Prime Minister’s newfound concern over our water, over our rivers. Amazing the change in a few short months.

In late September, 2006, John Howard was trying to protect the Kokoda Trail from being mined. “We obviously respect the laws of Papua New Guinea but the Kokoda Trail is of enormous historic and military significance to Australia and there has to be a way that fairness and justice can be done to all interests,” Mr Howard said.

In early September, 2006, Mr Howard was lobbying the Northern Territory Government to approve the open-cut expansion and diversion (destruction) of the McArthur River. It would seem that, to John Howard at least, the McArthur River isn’t as significant as our military history nor is it seen as an important water issue.

Perhaps he needs to take a (another) look at the McArthur River and read a little history about the McArthur and its military history, about the battles and massacres that took place there. He he could start with Tony Roberts excellent account, Frontier Justice: A History of the Gulf Country to 1900, 2005, University of Queensland Press.

Maybe our new Minister for the Environment, Malcom Turnbill can find a way of delivering fairness and justice to the McArthur River and its People.

mcarthur river   xstrata   northern territory   john howard