Freshwater sawfish

A good video by the ABC on the sawfish threatened by the river diversion, shame that the same biologist promoting the sawfish helped get approval for the mine and River diversion.

 See video by Anne Barker Darwin ABC

More details on the freshwater sawfish

Here are some issues identified by the NT Government’s EPA report before the project was approved (EPA Assessment Report 54).
“However, the 2006 survey confirms that freshwater sawfish at least transit through the proposed project area. This transit, to upstream dry season refugial pools, may be necessary for the long-term maintenance of the local population of sawfish in the McArthur River, and hence it is important that the proposed development does not result in impedance of this movement….[T]here remains some uncertainty about the extent to which the designed rock riffles at the upstream portion of the diversion channel may act as a barrier to sawfish dispersal; and some uncertainty about the feasibility and timing of construction of a suitable diversion channel relative to the proposed timing of severing of the natural river channel. It is difficult to be more precise in the assessment of dispersal patterns, and the likelihood that development will affect these patterns, because there has been no baseline study of dispersal of freshwater sawfish in this river system. This is a notable limitation in the material presented.

“Other aspects of the proposed development pose risks to this local population of freshwater sawfish. The PER notes that aquifer drawdown will reduce the volume of water maintained in Djirrinminni Waterhole, particularly during the late dry season. The PER asserts that this waterhole is suboptimal as a dry season refuge for freshwater sawfish, but this assessment is based largely on a single wet season sampling, supported by generalisations about its presumed resource requirements. The proposed development will reduce habitat quality at this site, one of the few persistent pools in the mid- to upper-reaches of the McArthur River. The PER also notes that the lower McArthur River (notably the estuarine delta) may support more substantial populations of freshwater sawfish, at least during some times of year. There may be some risks to this potentially important population associated with either catastrophic release of contaminants from the mine or low-level chronic reductions in water quality. The 2006 survey does not represent a particularly comprehensive nor substantial baseline for the ongoing assessment of impacts upon freshwater sawfish; and does not provide any detail on dispersal patterns.

“The limited survey data demonstrate that the freshwater sawfish currently disperses (presumably as an essential component of its life history) along the McArthur River through the project area. Characteristics of this dispersal pattern remain unknown. There is substantial risk that this dispersal will be detrimentally affected by the proposed development.

About - Don’t muck up the McArthur

The Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Governments recently approved the expansion of the McArthur River mine. The expansion involves the mining of the existing river bed via a massive open-pit mine and the construction of a new 5.5km channel. 

The proposal will potentially have serious, long term and irreversible impacts on the McArthur River – a major tropical river in the NT’s Gulf region - including the effects of sedimentation and heavy metal pollution on the river and on the rich downstream marine environments of the Gulf of Carpentaria. There is evidence the new mine would also harm the survival prospects of the McArthur River’s population of the IUCN Red Book ‘critically endangered’  Freshwater sawfish.

The River is extremely important to the four Indigenous language groups that share and live along the River, the Gurdanji, Mara, Garrawa and Yanyuwa. In recent months the groups have become increasingly united and vocal in their opposition, not to the mine, but to the river being moved. They feel they have been ignored and left out of an approval process that had no respect for their culture and spiritual connection with the land and river - what they describe as their gudgiga - their songs and stories. 

Unfortunately, both governments, whilst acknowledging concerns, have chosen to approve the proposal on the grounds that any issues can be managed. The Traditional Owners reject this, as to move the River would effect their dreamtime stories (spiritual link with country). Environmentally we reject it, due to the lack of evidence supporting the proponents claims and the high and catastrophic nature of the risk involved in diverting a tropical river.

The current campaign is essentially a pro-river campaign with the main objective being to stop the 5.5km diversion of the McArthur River. The campaign has been a joint effort between environment groups and the Traditional Owners from the area. The focus to date has been on the proposal assessment process and lobbying both Northern Territory and Australian Governments to reject the application to mine on environmental and cultural grounds.  The Traditional Owners are challening both the NT and Australian Governments decisions to approve the mine.

Have a look at the blog. Comment. Act.

Don’t muck up the McArthur

This is the start of the Don’t muck up the McArthur blog. For those who don’t know, the McArthur is a tropical river in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. 

The Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Governments recently approved the expansion of the McArthur River mine. The expansion involves the mining of the existing river bed via a massive open-pit mine and the construction of a new 5.5km channel.  

The proposal will potentially have serious, long term and irreversible impacts on the McArthur River – a major tropical river in the NT’s Gulf region - including the effects of sedimentation and heavy metal pollution on the river and on the rich downstream marine environments of the Gulf of Carpentaria. There is evidence the new mine would also harm the survival prospects of the McArthur River’s population of the IUCN Red Book ‘critically endangered’  Freshwater sawfish.

The River is extremely important to the four Indigenous language groups that share and live along the River, the Gurdanji, Mara, Garrawa and Yanyuwa. In recent months the groups have become increasingly united and vocal in their opposition, not to the mine, but to the river being moved. They feel they have been ignored and left out of an approval process that had no respect for their culture and spiritual connection with the land and river - what they describe as their gudgiga - their songs and stories. 

As a demonstration of their vision for the future, the Yanyuwa people – who recently had their Islands returned to them - have submitted to the NT government a major proposal for a ‘Sir Edward Pellow Islands Marine Park’ at the mouth of the McArthur. They are gravely concerned that the mine expansion will place this park at risk. 

The current campaign is essentially a pro-river campaign with the main objective being to stop the 5.5km diversion of the McArthur River. The campaign has been a joint effort between environment groups and the Traditional Owners from the area. The focus to date has been on the proposal assessment process and lobbying both Northern Territory and Australian Governments to reject the application to mine on environmental and cultural grounds. 

Unfortunately, both governments, whilst acknowledging concerns, have chosen to approve the proposal on the grounds that any issues can be managed. The Traditional Owners reject this, as to move the River would effect their dreamtime stories (spiritual link with country). Environmentally we reject it, due to the lack of evidence supporting the proponents claims and the high and catastrophic nature of the risk involved in diverting a tropical river.