ALC 15 year strategic plan 2012-2027
Anindilyakwa Land Council
Anindilyakwa Land Council annual report; Anindilyakwa Land Council strategic plan; Reports; PublicationNT
2012
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
English
Anindilyakwa Land Council (N.T.) -- Periodicals; Aboriginal Australians -- Northern Territory -- Groote Eylandt -- Periodicals
Anindilyakwa Land Council
Alyangula
2012-2027
Anindilyakwa Land Council
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/254602
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/529654
ALC 15 year Strategic Plan 5. Goal A: Protect the Land and Sea 34 5. GOAL A: PROTECT THE LAND AND SEA 5.1 PROTECT THE LAND Groote Eylandt has a unique and diverse environment with pristine beaches, spring water swimming holes, open woodland, rainforest, red sand dunes, and rock art which is thousands of years old. The Groote archipelago is in an enviable position in the context of the NT's, Australia's and indeed the world's natural environment. Having all these qualities in a single place is rare in the context of contemporary Australia and truly makes Groote Eylandt a highly valuable location in terms of environmental values. OPTIMISE MINING AGREEMENT Ironically it is the manganese deposits on Groote Eylandt that are mined under lease by Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) which currently underpin the viability of the Groote Eylandt economy. GEMCO has its own port facilities and the resource is mined through simple open-cut operations to the south of the mining township of Alyangula. GEMCO is one of the lowest-cost manganese ore producers in the world and this together with the high-grade ore and relative proximity to Asian export markets make it unique. GEMCO produced 4.3 million tonnes of ore in financial year 2011/12. At current production rates it has a reserve life of 15 years. GEMCO has recently undertaken an expansion project. The expansion project expands the capacity of GEMCOs processing plant by an estimated 1.0 mtpa at a cost (to BHP Billiton and Anglo American) of US$183 million. In addition, GEMCO is undertaking a pre-feasibility study into further expansion options. GEMCO mining leases were renewed for 25 years from 2006. It is yet to be agreed with the Traditional Owners whether these mining leases will move to an exploitation phase, thereby extending the mines operational life from a current available ore resource of 12-15 years. CONSIDERATION OF MINING MORATORIUM SOUTHERN LEASES The area referred to as the Southern Leases (EL 2455) is located in the south west of Groote Eylandt and extends from the South Point Tasman area in the west to the Amagula River region in the East and northwards towards Second Creek and Leske Pools. GEMCO (BHP Billiton) has had an interest in this area for several years as it is part of its large southern lease on Groote Eylandt and potentially holds significant manganese deposits. GEMCO currently operates in mining areas sufficient to sustain the company on Groote Eylandt for the next 12 to 25 years. A key company policy of BHP Billiton is future planning. including the securing of long term resources, hence their interest in the southern region of