Thursday, 18 January, 2007

ABC NT Local News

Environmentalists are concerned Compass Resources is not doing enough to protect Batchelor's water resources, south of Darwin.

The Browns Oxide project is expected to begin operations within six months.

The Territory Environment Centre's Emma King says the company needs to move swiftly and publicly outline how it will ensure there are no adverse impacts.

"The company hasn't been totally forthcoming," she said.

"In their original environmental assessment report they did mention the possible impacts of ground water drawn down on local horticulturalists, however that was very much downplayed in the subsequent public environment report.

"We have concerns that they are not engaging enough with the community and not being open enough with the community about what those impacts will be."

Ms King says farmers and others reliant on the water need a guarantee they will not be set back by the new project.

"The concerns that we have about the existing Browns Project are the effects on the ground water draw down, so the effects that that will have on agricultural projects in the region," she said.

"The assessment is that the draw down will effect from one to 1.5 kilometres from the mine site and we have great concerns [about] any possible expansion and the increased impact the draw down will have on a wider range of horticulturalists."

Ms King says further rehabilitation of the former Rum Jungle uranium mine must be done before a new mine can be developed.

She says monitoring and research must begin soon to reduce the risk of further pollution to the nearby Finniss River.

"They need to do a lot of research into the nature of the aquifers, the nature of the draw down that will apply," she said.

"For example, if there's fault lines that run under the horticultural business, that will exacerbate any draw down on those areas, and I believe that the Rum Jungle rehabilitation needs to be re-done.

"We need to see some real action from the Commonwealth Government about Rum Jungle before any sulphide project is approved."