F PRIME MINISTER j7/ 93
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P4. KEATING MP
MOUNT TODD GOLD MINE
I welcome today the final go ahead for Zapopan NL's Mount Todd gold mine near
Katherine in the Northern Territory.,
Environmental clearance, for the project was confirmed today by M4inister Ros
Kell. It follows last Friday's historic agreement betwecn, Zapopa I the loca
Jawoyn Association, and the Northern Territory Government to resolve all
outstanding land issues through a packagc that includes land, employment, and
training incentives for the local Jawoy people. The Commonwealth, although not
a signatory to the deal, participated in its negotiation.
Today's annouticemcnt means that Federal and Territory environmental
requirements have now becn fulfilled. Together with today's foreign investment
approval it means the path is cleared for development of the 100 million mine that
is expected to cmploy 200 people in the construction phase and 150 when
operational. Export earnings from the project are expected to be in the range of $ 50 to $ 100
million a year or up to $ 1 billion ovcr the lifc of the project.
Since it was proposed to the Federal Government in August, Mt Todd has
benefited from the One Nation Major Project Facilitation arrangements
administered by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Laurie
Brereton. It is also expected to be cligible for the Federal Government's 10 per
cent Development Allowance also announced in One Nation.
This mining project raised a number of complex and at times contentious
environmental and aboriginal issues. That all issues were able to be effectively
addressed is a credit to the cooperative spirit which prevailed in the project
negotiations. The resolution of aboriginal issues was achieved because of a willingness on the
part of Zapopan and the Jawoyn to find ways to meet the legitimate desire of local
people to benefit from the mine. The negotiated scttlement shows that where thcre
is a preparedness to sit down and consult on aboriginal issues, a cooperative
approach to development is possible.
Despite all the issues involved in the project, government approvals were delivered
efficiently and within the company's commercial time frame, as they were with the
previously announced McArthur River and Chargcurs projects.
Yet in spite of this, the project was included in Dr Hewson's Fightback 11 mythical
list of projects allegedly blocked by government approval.
CANBERRA January 1993