Nathan River Resources accused of pollution into Towns River, Limmen Bight Marine Park

A mining giant has been accused of unlawfully releasing ten million litres of potentially contaminated water into a Territory river.

UPDATE 7PM TUES: A ORE mining giant has been accused of unlawfully releasing ten million litres of potentially contaminated water into a river connected to a marine national park in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Representatives of Nathan River Resources appeared in Darwin Local Court on Tuesday over accusations it breached its licence by polluting in February 2021.

A mine spokesman said the criminal charges were over accusations the mine released an estimated 10.86 megalitres of water over less than six hours from their Danehill West pit on February 24, 2021.

A 2021 monitoring report released by Nathan River Mine said this was the second “non-compliant discharge event” from that month, with the iron ore mine facing legal strife over the location of the release.

The report said the release of 10,860,000 L of water was not from an “authorised discharge point” and “due to an operational oversight, it was not reported to the NT EPA at that time”.

The NT News understands the alleged unlawful release point was 400m upstream from the agreed point.

A mine spokesman said the company was authorised to discharge mine pit water in accordance with the conditions of its Waste Discharge Licence.

“NRR maintains a comprehensive environmental monitoring program and is confident that no serious environmental harm has occurred.”

The mining company’s report said an investigation “did not identify a risk of material environmental harm”. However, the report also said the two February discharge events “may have contributed an additional 30 per cent to contaminant loads recorded”.

Nathan River Mine tests for heavy metals and contaminants and found aluminium, arsenic, chromium, cobalt, iron, and zinc were at higher rates than background levels. The contaminant levels are not believed to be part of the Environment Departments criminal investigation.

Judge Therese Austin approved a five-week adjournment for both parties to prepare their case, with the government and the mine to return on April 20.

The Environment Centre NT has raised concerns over the potential discharge of heavy metals into the Towns River, which flows into the Limmen Bight Marine Park.

“It never should have come to this. That the release of heavy metals into the Towns River has occurred is a travesty, but was inevitable given the slapdash way in which this mine has been regulated,” Ms Howey said.

Ms Howey said there had been a push for greater transparency and accountability for the mining sector in the NT.

INITIAL MON: A MINING company breached the conditions of its waste discharge licence in the Roper region, the environment department will allege in court tomorrow.

The breach allegedly occurred in February last year at NRR Mining Pty Ltd’s operations, 60km southeast of Ngukurr, following investigations by the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security’s environment division, on behalf of the Controller of Water Reources.

Officers allege the company failed to comply with the conditions of its waste discharge licence with the matter listed for mention in the Darwin Local Court tomorrow.

The company faces penalties under the Water Act 1992 if found guilty.

A spokesman for the company said the matter related to the discharge of mine pit water from an unauthorised discharge point, rather than an authorised one.

“NRR authorised to discharge mine pit water from the Danehill mine pit in accordance with the conditions of its (licence),” the spokesman said.

“NRR maintains a comprehensive environmental monitoring program and is confident that no serious environmental harm has occurred.”

Meanwhile, the department has encouraged the community to report any pollution incidents to the NT EPA Pollution Hotline on 1800 064 567.