Worker injured in mine trespass attack

Police attended a Northern Territory mine on Saturday morning after reports of a group of men trespassing and trying to steal cars.

Two Territory workers on a remote mine site were injured and a section of the mine locked down after an unknown group of offenders broke into the facility overnight forcing staff to barricade themselves into a smoko room.

Police said a worker was allegedly threatened with an axe and another suffered an eye injury when an object, believed to have been a screwdriver, was thrown through a glass window.

South32’s GEMCO manganese mine’s Facebook page confirmed the incident mid-afternoon Saturday.

A haul truck drives past a crossing at South32's GEMCO manganese mining operation on Groote Eylandt.

“In the early hours of (Saturday) morning, some members of the public accessed the GEMCO mine site, causing damage and temporary disruption to the operation,” a South32 spokesman said.

“Two of our workforce members sustained injuries and received treatment on Groote Eylandt.

“The incident is now a police matter and is under investigation.

“GEMCO’s priority is the safety of our people. We are working closely with police to assist with their inquiries.”

Superintendent Tanya Mace said at about 2.10am the joint emergency services communications centre received reports of an unlawful entry at a mine site near Alyangula involving an “unknown group of offenders who had allegedly damaged property and fled the scene”.

Police are investigating a violence incident at GEMCO’s mine.

“The offenders returned a short time later but again fled the scene upon police arrival,” she said.

“One worker was allegedly threatened with an edged weapon and another received an injury to their eye when a window was smashed.”

Alyangula police are investigating the incidents.

The NT government, which is trying to attract new mines to deliver capital investment and economic growth to the Territory, would be disturbed at the incident.

Police attended the incident and it is not yet clear if there were any arrests.

A haul truck drives past a crossing at South32's GEMCO manganese mining operation on Groote Eylandt.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said reports of mine workers being forced to barricade themselves into a locked room had potentially serious economic implications.

“Crime continues to have a devastating impact on our economy,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“A strong resources sector is vital to the Territory’s economy and future growth. We can’t achieve that if workers are not safe, like we’ve seen overnight.”

Mining Minister Nicole Manison said “there is no excuse for this type of behaviour”.

“Police are investigating the matter to ensure those involved are are brought to justice,” she said.

With the Groote Eylandt mine expected to close in about 2030 along with Gove’s bauxite mine, the NT government is desperate to increase mining revenues and royalties and to reduce the NT’s reliance on commonwealth revenue. The NT currently has eight operational mines