Glencore’s McArthur River Mine to plead over alleged breach on Damangani ‘Barramundi Dreaming’ sacred site

A mining giant has indicated it will plead over allegations it illegally worked on a sacred ‘Barramundi Dreaming’ site, which sits next to the mine’s mountain of rock waste.

Glencore MRM McArthur River Mine NT

The operator of one of the world’s largest lead mines is expected to make a plea over allegations it illegally worked on a sacred site, next to its waste dump.

On Monday, representatives for McArthur River Mining company told Darwin Local Court Judge Tanya Fong Lim they intended to enter a plea to the charge of carrying out work on a sacred site at the mine 70km southwest of Borroloola.

The Glencore-owned lead and zinc mining firm is accused of carrying out work at Damangani, also known as Barramundi Dreaming or Mt Stubbs, without obtaining an authority certificate.

Following the Darwin Local Court hearing, MRM confirmed it conducted “minor works” by installing metal handrails “in the vicinity” of the Damangani sacred site in order to carry out environmental sampling.

“MRM did engage with an Indigenous custodian of the sacred site and acted on the belief that it had consent to carry out these works,” a spokeswoman said.

“MRM has acknowledged these actions did not meet our regulatory requirements in relation to obtaining formal certification from AAPA.”

“MRM deeply regrets the sadness and concern this has caused to Indigenous Traditional Owners and custodians.”

McArthur River Mine waste rock pile.

Damangani stands next to where Glencore piled up a 80m tall mountain of rock waste, which in 2014 spontaneously combusted releasing clouds of sulphur dioxide.

In 2022 the NT Government knocked back a proposal from MRM to expand the rock dump site from 80m to 140m tall, with Traditional Owners concerned the expanded waste site brought it within 35m of the site and would block views of Damangani.

At the time, AAPA said the company had not reached an agreement with the relevant custodians over its proposed expansion, with MRM telling the parliamentary Juukan Gorge Inquiry it “will not proceed, and of course cannot proceed, with this work (around Damangani) unless and until we obtain the appropriate approvals from AAPA and the Northern Territory Government”.

The view of the McArthur River Mine from the Carpentaria Hwy

However in June, Darwin Local Court heard MRM worked on the Damangani sacred site without an Authority Certificate, which would have provided clear advice on where sacred sites were, and how to work alongside them.

On Monday, Ms Fong Lim was told the mining company would be contacting the applicant and seeking victim impact statements from impacted Traditional Owners.

The matter was adjourned to December 12 for a plea.

Following the hearing, AAPA chief executive Benedict Scambary welcomed the move by McArthur River Mine to indicate a plea over the alleged sacred site breach.

“The Authority Certificate process is a well-established, independent and trusted process to protect sacred sites and guide development,” Dr Scambary said.