A mining company in the Northern Territory has been fined more than $300,000 for the unauthorised release of contaminated wastewater that had the potential to cause environmental harm.
Nathan River Resources (NRR) runs the Roper Bar iron ore mine, which is situated within the Limmen National Park, about 600 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
Following a wet season deluge in February last year, a significant amount of mining-affected wastewater was pumped out of the mine's pits into the nearby Towns River over several days.
The action was in contravention of the mine's waste discharge licence and led to the company pleading guilty to four offences in September.
In the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, Judge David Woodroffe said that while there was no evidence of actual harm to the environment, the actions of the company still created a threat to a pristine area.
"There was a potential risk to the environment from the voluminous discharge of waste into the Towns River and ecosystem surrounding the mine site … [which has] a high ecological value due to its remoteness, relatively undisturbed condition, and potential connectivity with a sawfish habitat," he said.
The judge said the culpability of the company was compounded by its failure to have preventative measures in place to deal with the inadequacy of its pumping equipment.
He noted the company had taken practical steps to make amends since the incident, including taking disciplinary action and ensuring staff were now aware of water discharge procedures.
"However, the ultimate responsibility for the offending rests with the mining company [which had a] lack of adherence to the strict requirements of [its] water discharge licence," he said.
The judge convicted the company on all four counts and issued a fine totalling $340,000.
The NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security said breaches of water discharge licences were taken seriously.
"Licence holders have a responsibility to the environment, and as the regulator, we treat all reports of pollution with the respect they deserve," the department's controller of water resources, Jo Townsend, said.
"NRR did not have any authorisation, justification or excuse for discharging the mining-affected wastewater in the manner they did."
The Environment Centre NT welcomed the court's penalty against the company but said better regulations were needed to prevent pollution.
"Of course, it is important when mining companies break the law that appropriate action should be taken, however we need to remember that this pollution occurring in the first place is a failure of mining regulations in the Northern Territory," spokesman Naish Gawen said.
"Our mining laws are weak and not fit for purpose."
According to the Nathan River Resources website, the Roper Bar iron ore mine is currently in care and maintenance.
