Keeping an eye on backyard mining
Carl Curtain
ABC NT Country Hour
There's something about owning a block of land, no matter how big or small, you don't really want people wandering around on it unless they have your permission.
One would like to know if someone was going to start bulldozing trees and drilling holes.
As exploration heats up again in the Territory, a number of smaller block owners, of around 8 hectares, are concerned their land may be taken over and damaged by mining companies.
A Government information forum was held at Berry Springs last night, on the outskirts of Darwin, for people living in the Daly electorate.
It was to let people know of the approvals processes, their rights as residents and what obligations exist for companies.
The Territory's Environmental Protection Authority has been reviewing the hoops that mining companies have to jump through to prove they won't significantly damage the environment.
Chair Andrew Tupper chair says they're continuing to welcome more public input about the process.
"What really struck me from what I heard today was that people are pretty well informed and are very passionate about their backyards.
"There's a good understanding of how big picture policies can affect the local land holders."
Liz Howells owns a block near the Darwin River, an area where exploration activity is taking place.
She says she was successful in having her block removed from the exploration zone.
"I just wrote a letter and gave lots of reasons why it shouldn't happen.
"It's lovely bush, there's a creek and it would be impossible to repair it and put it back as it was once you've dug a mine and put a road through."
Member for Daly Rob Knight says it's very unlikely a mine would ever be developed from a discovery on one of the small blocks.
"These blocks are 20 acres, they're big but not that big. You would have to financially acquire a lot of them to actually have room for a mine and a buffer area around it.
"There are a whole range of reasons why exploration companies put applications over land, some are speculative and they may never get to doing anything on them."
He says he welcomes members of the community to apply for 'Reservations from Occupation', which excludes their land from such developments.
"For people out here, a 20 acre block is no different to an 800 metre-square block in Palmerston or Darwin.
"It's certainly something that I'll be...seeing if we can get the consideration that is given to the more urban areas, given to the rural areas as well."
One would like to know if someone was going to start bulldozing trees and drilling holes.
As exploration heats up again in the Territory, a number of smaller block owners, of around 8 hectares, are concerned their land may be taken over and damaged by mining companies.
A Government information forum was held at Berry Springs last night, on the outskirts of Darwin, for people living in the Daly electorate.
It was to let people know of the approvals processes, their rights as residents and what obligations exist for companies.
The Territory's Environmental Protection Authority has been reviewing the hoops that mining companies have to jump through to prove they won't significantly damage the environment.
Chair Andrew Tupper chair says they're continuing to welcome more public input about the process.
"What really struck me from what I heard today was that people are pretty well informed and are very passionate about their backyards.
"There's a good understanding of how big picture policies can affect the local land holders."
Liz Howells owns a block near the Darwin River, an area where exploration activity is taking place.
She says she was successful in having her block removed from the exploration zone.
"I just wrote a letter and gave lots of reasons why it shouldn't happen.
"It's lovely bush, there's a creek and it would be impossible to repair it and put it back as it was once you've dug a mine and put a road through."
Member for Daly Rob Knight says it's very unlikely a mine would ever be developed from a discovery on one of the small blocks.
"These blocks are 20 acres, they're big but not that big. You would have to financially acquire a lot of them to actually have room for a mine and a buffer area around it.
"There are a whole range of reasons why exploration companies put applications over land, some are speculative and they may never get to doing anything on them."
He says he welcomes members of the community to apply for 'Reservations from Occupation', which excludes their land from such developments.
"For people out here, a 20 acre block is no different to an 800 metre-square block in Palmerston or Darwin.
"It's certainly something that I'll be...seeing if we can get the consideration that is given to the more urban areas, given to the rural areas as well."