Big wigs met with ministers ahead of record water licence decision, FOI reveals

The proponent of the largest water extraction licence ever granted in the NT met with key government ministers and the Water Controller before she approved the licence, documents released under freedom of information laws reveal.

Environment Centre NT co-director Kirsty Howey. Picture: Glenn Campbell

THE proponent of the largest water extraction licence ever granted in the NT met with key government ministers and the Water Controller before she approved the licence, documents released under freedom of information (FOI) laws reveal.

The documents, seen by the NT News, show Chief Minister Michael Gunner, Environment Minister Eva Lawler, Resources Minister Paul Kirby and Environment Department chief executive, Jo Townsend, were all present at the meeting.

Also there were representatives of Fortune Agribusiness, the company behind a controversial application for a 40 billion litre a year water extraction licence at Singleton Station which was subsequently granted by Ms Townsend in her role as Water Controller.

The documents were obtained through an FOI request by the Environment Centre NT (ECNT) and the centre’s co-director, Kirsty Howey, claimed they exposed “policy being developed on the run”.

“Following that meeting there’s a policy developed by the CEO of the department with senior staff which is negotiated, effectively, with the proponent, which isn’t put out for consultation with any other stakeholders,” she said.

“Then in her role as the CEO of the Environment Department, in February 2020, that policy is approved and enables, effectively, up to 30 per cent of groundwater dependent ecosystems to be adversely impacted or damaged and then that creates a clear path to go and grant the water licence by that same person earlier this year in her role as Water Controller.

“It’s a pretty significant problem for water management and trust in the Territory’s ability to regulate water in the face of this renewed pressure to develop the north if you’ve got policies being directly negotiated with proponents and no other stakeholder and it gives rise to a lot of questions about the manner in which regulation of this resource is happening.”

A spokeswoman for Ms Lawler said water was “crucial for all aspects of our social, cultural and economic life”.

“Ministers consistently meet with stakeholders, including the private sector, peak bodies, not-for-profits and community groups,” she said.

“The Northern Territory government has strict and robust applications processes in place for any new development, including in relation to water.

“The Territory Labor government has, and always will, ensure that any decisions regarding water are informed by science.”

Ms Lawler is due to rule on a review of Ms Townsend’s decision to grant the licence brought on by a challenge from the ECNT by Monday.

Ms Townsend was contacted for comment but the department was unable to provide a response by deadline on Wednesday.