Has NT's reputation been tarnished by the toxic spill?

Post by **Matt Flynn** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:14 pm

We have had up to 1200 tonnes of copper concentrate dumped into the Daly River catchment.
We have had acid water from the MT Todd mine dumped into the Daly River catchment.
We have had constant E. Coli scares in Darwin Harbour.
We have had ore spills at several NT ports.

Has the NT's reputation been tarnished by the above, and the latest toxic spill?

Or is the latest spill just a stumble among the footsteps of progress?

ronje · Post by **ronje** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:34 pm

Or is the latest toxic spill another symptom of a slack preventaive policy?

nomad · Post by **nomad** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:02 pm

Loaded question there Matt.

Of course the spills are a big problem. But unless we have regs in place AND the willpower to police and prosecute offenders, they have no incentive to change.

But then again, that would make us a nanny state wouldn’t it.

Laws will only be introduced if the ‘people’ demand it.
From the report
http://www.epa.nt.gov.au/sites/default/ ... Part-1.pdf

The Incident
In April 2010, it was alleged by a port worker that 1 tonne of copper concentrate spilled from a loading chute at East Arm Wharf into Darwin Harbour, and that the incident was not reported as required under the relevant pollution legislation. It was also alleged by a port worker that substantial amounts of copper concentrate dust escaped from the bulk export facility (consisting of a loading mechanism and conveyer belt) on a number of occasions onto the wharf hardstand and into the Harbour.

If the worker didnt dob them in, would they ever have reported it??
The investigation was following a paper trail – very limited formal interviews
The facility is owned by the Govt. Hard for one dept to charge another.

EDIT
from the EPA website
What We Do

The EPA conducts research, inquiries and reviews on emerging and strategic issues, environmental incidents, and decisions which affect ecologically sustainable development in the Territory. The EPA produces reports on these matters in the form of advice to the Minister. The reports are published on this website and must be tabled in the Legislative Assembly

IE toothless tiger.

Dick · Post by **Dick** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:45 pm

Acid baths has always been a good way to clean up tarnished coppper Matt

Post by **Matt Flynn** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:38 am

This line was in a news story: "Copper concentrate is itself a toxic substance and Oz Minerals had been given a one-year exemption to transport the material in tarpaulin-covered wagons, the Adelaide Advertiser reported, after government rules for the transport of the substance had been temporarily relaxed."

FFF readers may recall there have been rumours before of the NT Government relaxing environmental guidelines for big business. Looks like we are now paying the price.

Appears there was also 96kg of uranium mixed in with the copper, according to news reports.

bunji · Post by **bunji** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:13 am

Matt l am currently in Cloncurry qld with work and there is bugger all coverage of it here from what l have seen, is it getting coverage down south ? Heads need to roll all the way to the top on this IMO. The other thing werent they supposed to have put a flood monitoring system in the rivers around Katherine after the katherine floods to give them and the Daly some warning of flood events.If these shiny arses had one speck of decencey they would resign in mass over this .Wonder if we will be hearing the old LIFESTYLE line getting trotted out any time soon

Basstad · Post by **Basstad** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:35 am

Don't forget about the tanker of sulphuric acid that rolled over on the Arnhem hwy a year or so ago or the potential for urainium from ranger to be lost at one of the many bridges/causeways or that process water was used throughout the plant as potable water a few years ago or that it leaked process water into the wet lands.........wanna keep going?..

All mines have a very dirty track record.......

seano · Post by **seano** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:10 am

Its the beginning of the end ...wait until the LNG plant takes off, but thats ok -our houses will be worth more!

palaran · Post by **palaran** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:52 am

Very liminted Environmental Protection Laws........
Doesn't help.............
The NT EPA has no regulatory role.
Here in WA we have many Environmental laws and prosecutions happen.
The best thing about NT is because you have no real law you can draft some and take the best from all the States and write some very good law.
Best to hit your Environment Minister up as he was saying such at the AELERT (law enforcement conference which was attended by +200 regulators from across Australia/NZ and the world......) conference back in October in Darwin.

Post by **Matt Flynn** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 7:37 am

Still spilling ... http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/1 ... tnews.html

Interesting low number of poll votes on this topic, other FFF polls have had 40 or more voters.

Bazza94 · Post by **Bazza94** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:12 pm

It has far from tarnished our reputation as one of the best fishing destinations in the world! There is thousands of kilometres of coastline that is NOT affected by waste and not to mention the hundreds of untouched creeks, rivers, and billabongs. I say that this is a little rough patch in Darwin and surrounding areas and im sure that if marine life is affected by these incidents they will recover well and bring more great fishing for locals and people all over the world

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:05 pm

I don't think that the Nt's rep is likely to be hurt. It's not exactly a prolonged seepage of built up toxens due to mining or sugar farming in the area. This will be diluted by the flooding and continued wet season water flow and little damage will remain.

nomad · Post by **nomad** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:35 am

Matt Flynn wrote:Still spilling ... http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/1 ... tnews.html

Interesting low number of poll votes on this topic, other FFF polls have had 40 or more voters.

True matt
Pretty much confirms that Territorians dont give a rats about it.
Years ago, a poll of 10 000 people in Sydney asked what their major concern was (employment, safety, health, family or environment).
80% of the responsants said the concerns for the Enviroment was top of their list
I wonder if its because of the lower age of Territorians and they think the govt will look after the place?

I did many years in the NSW EPA as a special investigator.
Companies did exactly what they now do up here (dump cr.p wherever they like, transport hazardous stuff with no thought of spillage/accidents)
They changed their ways when fines of $1M and prison time were introduced. Theres nothing like the thought of prison time for a CEO for them to re-think their processes.

sheps · Post by **sheps** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:49 pm

most people don't care about the territory as they are only here to make a bit of cash before heading back south.

olfart · Post by **olfart** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:11 pm

maybe 'Don't Know' should be an option..only time will tell really.

North Australian FISH FINDER forums