Media release
-
“Too much at stake”: Residents raise the alarm about environmental impacts of Tarwoo Cotton Gin
Learn moreKatherine area residents have today called on the Gunner Government to undertake a full environmental assessment of the proposed Tarwoo cotton gin, following revelations that the proponents have started construction before obtaining planning and environmental approvals.
Satellite imaging* has revealed that vegetation clearing started on the site in July 2021, the same month that proponents submitted an application for planning approval to clear 197 hectares of native vegetation.
Long term Edith Farms resident Lori Martin lives next door to the site and said the rush for clearing is disrespectful to the communities who will be affected if the gin goes ahead.
“People like myself have been left completely in the dark about how this industrial facility will impact on local residents and the natural environment.
“By forging ahead without waiting for the government to reach a decision on their planning application, industry is showing a blatant disregard for local concerns. There’s too much at stake to rush this,” said Ms Martin.
Katherine resident Shirley Crane expressed her concerns at the impact of a massive increase in cotton cropping on the Daly and Katherine River catchments.
“Our rivers are the lifeblood of our region. Our lifestyles rely on our environment, and it’s critical we look after our rivers in the face of industry expansion plans,” said Ms Crane.
“With industry spruiking the potential for rapid expansion of cotton cropping across the region, many people have been concerned about what this will mean for our rivers.”
“We need the NT Government to urgently intervene to ensure that the cotton gin and associated expansion of cotton cropping don’t go ahead without full environmental assessment and appropriate community consultation,” said Ms Crane.
“Hundreds of Territorians have called on the NT EPA to call in this proposal for a full environmental assessment,” said Pew Charitable Trusts NT Manager Mitch Hart.
“Territorians should be able to trust that our government will do the job of protecting our water and landscapes for the future – and that the cotton industry should do better than this if it wants to earn the community’s trust,” he said.
*Sentinel 2-L2A satellite data provided by Sinergise Laboratory for geographical information systems Ltd, EO Browser (accessed on October 3).
Satellite imagery: 3 October 2021 – showing cotton gin facility under construction -
Territorians call for full environmental assessment of Tarwoo Cotton Gin
Learn moreFollowing recent media comments from cotton industry proponents about works starting on the Tarwoo Cotton Gin and approval of large-scale land clearing applications, environmental groups, local residents and fishing tourism operators have urged the Northern Territory Government not to let the cotton industry take hold in the Top End without proper scrutiny.
Territorians value our healthy rivers and savanna landscapes and the role they play in supporting our iconic fishing, tourism businesses and for our lifestyle. With a cotton gin on the horizon, these applications are a sign of things to come and highlight the importance of the NT Government taking active steps to get this right from the start.
Co-director of the Environment Centre NT (ECNT) Kirsty Howey
Co-director of the Environment Centre NT (ECNT) Kirsty Howey said the rush to feed the proposed gin is already well underway with several land clearing applications submitted.“This is just the beginning. We’ve just seen the Gunner Government wave through its first “streamlined” pastoral land clearing approval to bulldoze nearly one thousand hectares of savanna bushland at Claravale Station, despite Territorians sounding the alarm about the impacts on important populations of threatened species such as the Gouldian Finch, ghost bat and partridge pigeon,” she said.
“Last week we welcomed the news that plans to clear thousands of hectares at Ucharonidge Station had been referred to the NT Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for environmental assessment, but there is a clear need to examine the cumulative impacts of large scale cotton expansion plans.”
NT Manager, Pew Charitable Trusts, Mitch Hart
NT Manager, Pew Charitable Trusts, Mitch Hart said big questions remained over plans for a cotton gin, which could lead to billions of litres of water being taken from our floodplains and rivers.“Territorians have heard the warnings from communities in the Murray Darling who have witnessed first-hand the impact that large-scale cotton crops have on river catchments, corroding public trust and destroying local communities.”
“We remain concerned at the prospect of a rapidly expanding cotton industry, with proponents telling the media that construction of the cotton gin will start this month. It’s imperative that the NT EPA immediately investigate the gin proposal including a full environmental assessment of indirect and cumulative impacts.”
Edith Farms Road resident, Lori Martin
Long term Edith Farms resident Lori Martin lives adjacent to the Tarwoo site and says she has been left in the dark over the proponent’s efforts – if any – to minimise potential impacts on her health if the cotton gin goes ahead.“The potential impacts on my health, air quality, pollution, water resources, local environment and my quality of life is causing me serious anxiety,” Ms Martin said.
“This application provides no clarity as to what concrete steps would be put in place to avoid, mitigate and manage any likely impacts on water consumption from aquifers that are shared by Edith Farm resident’s bores. That’s before we even get to the potential downstream water impacts.”
Daly River Tourism Operator, Adrian Koenen
Long term tourism operator and fisherman at Woolianna on Daly, Adrian Koenen, says there has been little consultation with tourism operators or fishing groups and scarce information from the NT Government.“The Daly River is widely regarded as the premier Barramundi sports fishing location in Australia. Tourists from far and wide travel to the NT to try and catch one of the Daly’s legendary Barramundi and explore one of the most beautiful and healthy rivers in Northern Australia.”
“Any new plans for expanding an industry with risks like cotton needs to stack up economically, socially and environmentally. Without that we risk putting Territory jobs, businesses and lifestyle at risk.”“There needs to be a proper assessment of the Tarwoo cotton gin proposal to firmly establish what building this gin will mean for the health of our rivers. We need to know how increased land clearing, water extraction and applications of agricultural chemicals will affect our rivers and the long standing tourism businesses that rely on them”.
-
Daly River tourism operators call for government action to protect river flows and local fishing industry
Learn moreTourism operators from the Daly River region have written to the Northern Territory Government, outlining their concerns about proposed large-scale cotton operations further upstream.
“The Daly River is widely regarded as the premier Barramundi sports fishing location in Australia. Tourists from far and wide travel to the NT to try and catch one of the Daly’s legendary Barramundi and explore one of the most beautiful and healthy rivers in Northern Australia,” said Harold Sinclair, who operates a recreational fishing business on the Daly River.
“Fishing tournaments held here inject many dollars into the NT economy and significantly boost the Territory’s tourism brand. Business owners like myself have financially invested in developing and growing the infrastructure with a long term operational business plan based on Barramundi fishing.”
NT Minister for Small Business and Recreational Fishing Paul Kirby is today attending a community meeting in Daly River, to address concerns raised by local businesses.
“Many of us have concerns about the increasing demands for water access from large Agribusiness companies seeking to expand operations in the Daly catchment. We are proud hard working business people, we’re creating jobs, and we know what is sustainable here at the Daly,” said Mr Sinclair.
The NT Government is currently developing a surface water policy to allow capture of overland flows. Tourism operators have expressed concerns that this could have impacts for the health of the river, and therefore the many tourism operations and jobs that depend upon it.
“Many years of scientific research has firmly established that a healthy Barramundi Fishery relies on regular wet season floods. These floods create highly productive ecosystems on the floodplains and billabongs and explode with life – particularly the local Barramundi,” said marine ecologist Jason Fowler from Territory Rivers: Keep ‘em Flowing.
“Floodplain ‘harvesting’ of water may have serious effects on the size and duration of floods which would be disastrous for healthy Barramundi stocks and the vibrant tourism industry that relies on them. We shouldn’t be risking Territory jobs, businesses and lifestyle in favour of big business coming up from down South,” said Mr Fowler.
-
Territory Rivers – Keep ‘Em Flowing: communities launch movement to protect Top End rivers
Learn moreLocal recreational fishers, tour operators and communities have come together with environmental organisations today to launch a campaign to protect iconic free-flowing rivers in the Northern Territory.
“Territorians should be proud of our rivers. Where we live is special, these rivers haven’t been dammed, don’t have large volumes of water taken from them, and have catchments that are all or primarily still native bushland,” said Kirsty Howey, Co-Director of the Environment Centre NT.
“While our rivers are mostly in good shape, they are under threat from big business who want to take huge amounts of water out – predominantly for cotton crops. Industry are pushing for a cotton processing facility near Katherine, huge increases in bulldozed land in the Douglas Daly and access to billions of litres more water from floodplains.”
Harold Sinclair, from Sinclair’s Daly River Fishing Retreat, is concerned about the impact of reduced water flows on the nearby Daly River.
“The NT Government needs to listen to people who live and work downstream on the river system. We only get one shot at getting this right and I’m worried that we’re steering towards a Murray-Darling disaster driven by the very same industry players,” he said.
“These big cotton growers seem to assume that they can just take more water out of our river systems – more than our rivers can sustain, particularly in drier years. Taking huge volumes of extra water from the Douglas-Daly floodplains will be disastrous for the barramundi that bring locals and tourists alike flocking in.
“We need to listen to the experience and knowledge of those who know these rivers well, not more of the same from big cotton who are intent on rushing more irrigation to feed the proposed gin. Those of us whose lives and livelihoods depend on the river will be left to pick up the pieces,” said Mr Sinclair.
Roxanne Woolley is a recreational fisher and educator from Humpty Doo, who is deeply worried about the future health of our Territory rivers.
“The flows of these rivers are their lifeblood. Without the sustenance it provides to all living things – including the big Barramundi we all go out to catch – we’ve got nothing. We all bear a responsibility to nurture it for those of us here today and tomorrow.”
“In planning for the future, we need to ensure that the river is not a victim of a narrow view of economic development that ignores the people, jobs and lifestyle that can continue to make this place special. There is no future for an economy that has no water to sustain it. Without healthy rivers we’re all left high and dry,” said Ms Woolley.
We’ve seen strong community voices from across the Top End speaking up – from Katherine, Nauiyu, Woolianna and Darwin – all of whom share concerns for the future health of the rivers that their communities rely on,” said Mitch Hart, NT Manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts.
“These are recreational fishers, tourism operators, local food growers and community members who know how important our rivers are to what makes the Territory special.”
“The Top End has a unique lifestyle worth protecting. Free flowing tropical rivers are extraordinarily rare and our rivers are internationally significant. They are home to a diverse range of freshwater species; healthy, well-functioning ecosystems and they support local businesses and lifestyle,” said Mr Hart.
“Healthy rivers are central to our Territory way of life, our economic success and our culture. We need to all be working together to keep them as special as the rest of the Territory.”
-
Huge cotton expansion in Top End will result in wrecked rivers
Learn moreConservationists, tourism operators and graziers have today issued a warning to Territorians not to let the cotton industry take hold in the Top End, after large-scale cotton growers revealed last week that they intend to expand a proposed cotton gin near Katherine to a much higher capacity than previously stated.
“We know that the cotton industry wants to establish large-scale operations in the Northern Territory, which could result in more bushland bulldozed and more water extracted from already stretched systems,” said Jason Fowler, an ecologist working with the Environment Centre NT.
“It should be sending off alarm bells in everyone’s head that the industry is ramping up pressure to build a massively oversized cotton gin at Tarwoo station near Katherine. On the one hand, they’re claiming that cotton operations will only be ‘dryland’ trials, yet admit it will still require ‘supplementary irrigation’.”
“Last week at the Food Futures conference we heard the proposed gin will have the capacity to take up to 450,000 bales per year when fully operational. How much bulldozed land will be required to grow 450,000 bales of cotton a year? How much ‘supplementary irrigation’ will be needed and how many dams does that actually mean?” said Mr Fowler.
Harold Sinclair, from Sinclair’s Daly River Fishing Retreat, is concerned about the impact of reduced water flows on the nearby Daly river.
“The NT Government needs to listen to people who live and work downstream on the river system, like fishing guides, tourism operators, Aboriginal Rangers and local communities. We only get one shot at getting this right and I’m worried that we’re steering towards a Murray-Darling disaster driven by the very same industry players,” he said.
“These big cotton growers seem to assume that they can just take more water out of our river systems – more than they can ever sustain, particularly in drier years. Taking huge volumes of extra water from the Douglas-Daly floodplains will be disastrous for the barramundi that bring locals and tourists alike flocking in.
“We need to listen to the experience and knowledge of those who know these rivers well, not more of the same from big cotton who are intent on steamrolling massive irrigation projects forward. Those of us whose lives and livelihoods depend on the river will be left to pick up the pieces,” said Mr Sinclair.
Echoing these concerns is Rob McBride, a grazier from NSW who last month wrote to Chief Minister Gunner outlining his experiences along the Murray Darling and warning the NT Government to not make the same mistakes.
“Do not risk the devastating impacts to fish stocks, the natural environment, local communities and existing agricultural industries on the false promises of Big Cotton,” said Mr McBride
“It may be too late to save the mighty Murray-Darling system, but I urge your government to heed this warning and not allow the same thing to happen to the rivers of the Northern Territory,” he said.
“Territorians know that cotton kills rivers and want to keep it out of the Top End. We’ve heard the warnings from Traditional Owners, graziers and people down south on the reality of how cotton devastates river systems, corrodes public trust and destroys communities,” said Mr Fowler.
“We’re now seeing these same players come north, intent on taking more of our water and exerting political pressure on decision-makers to pave the way for their operations. What the Territory needs right now is sensible, sustainable strategies to build our future – not big in dustry players who have a history of wrecking river systems down south,” he concluded.
-
Territorians do not want this cotton gin
Learn moreThe Environment Centre NT has responded with alarm to today’s announcement of industry plans to build a massive cotton gin at Tarwoo, just north of Katherine on the Stuart Highway.
“People in the Top End have made it abundantly clear: we don’t want the cotton industry anywhere near our rivers until they’ve fixed up their Murray-Darling mess. Do these companies think they can ignore Territorians like this?” said Kirsty Howey, Co-Director of ECNT.
In a uComms poll of Top End residents in February:
- 69.4% of Territorians polled said that the cotton industry shouldn’t be allowed into the Territory until they fix up their mess in the Murray-Darling basin.
- 60.8% of Territorians are opposed to the NT Government giving taxpayer funded subsidies to the cotton industry to establish operations in the NT.[1]
“We need the Northern Territory Government to listen to Territorians – many of whom have grave concerns about what such a large expansion of the cotton industry would mean for our rivers, our fishing and our lifestyle.”
“The big cotton companies need to stop their doublespeak. They’ve been asking for public money to build this gin for years. When they didn’t get it, they switched to asking for taxpayer money to build new power lines and roads on private property.”
“That’s still public money going straight to a private company, to fund the most expensive part of building a damaging cotton gin and prop up their operations. Why should Territory taxpayers fork out our money to prop up big cotton companies when remote communities still lack basic drinking water protections and energy security?”
“A cotton gin of this size would require large amounts of water, land and power. In full operation, a cotton gin like this would need at least 832,000 litres per day of water just to keep it running. Where is all that water coming from? How will that impact on local farmers and growers in Edith Farms and the Katherine region?”
“We also remain deeply concerned about the electricity requirements of such a massive operation. Where will that power come from? Who in the Territory will miss out on power generation if the cotton companies get their millions in taxpayer handouts?”
“Today’s announcement by industry flies in the face of community concerns and puts the future of Top End rivers at risk. Territorians know that cotton kills rivers. We don’t want to see the same mistakes from down South, happen up here.”
[1] Polling commissioned by the Environment Centre NT and undertaken by uComms, who conducted a survey of 837 residents in the Northern Territory seats of Blain, Brennan, Casuarina, Daly, Drysdale, Fannie Bay, Fong Lim, Johnston, Karama, Katherine, Nightcliff, Port Darwin, Sanderson, Spillett, and Wanguri during the nights of the 10th & 11th February 2021.
-
No dams for cotton: Gunner needs to rule out floodplain extraction for cotton mates
Learn moreEnvironment Centre NT is calling on the Northern Territory Government to rule out a floodplain ‘dam rush’ to feed the proposed massive expansion of large scale agriculture driven by the proposed cotton gin at Tarwoo.
The NT Government is due to release a ‘Surface Water Harvesting Policy‘ regulating dams and water extraction that could pave the way for a rapid expansion of cotton in the Top End.
“Floodplain extraction means dams. Every dam that is built on the floodplain robs the rivers and aquifers of water,” said Kirsty Howey, Co-Director of ECNT.
“Industry has been pushing to get its hands on 520 billion litres of water from the floodplains in the Douglas-Daly region, including the floodplains for the iconic Daly River. Our floodplains are vital parts of our unique Top End ecosystems.”
“It’s those big water flows on the floodplains that make our rivers work and flow healthily. Barra restocking relies on these big flushes every Wet season. Right now Territorians, visitors and local small businesses are gearing up for a huge run-off fishing season on the Daly.”
“The large-scale cotton industry hopes that they can get their rush for Territory water approved as the innocuous-sounding ‘floodplain harvesting’, but it’s obvious – Big Cotton wants dams. That’s too big a risk to the Territory’s other growers, fishing guides and fishers.”
“The cotton industry wanted free money to set up their cotton gin. When they didn’t get that, they stuck their hand out for free power lines and free roads, paid for by public money.”
“The Gunner Government must rule out giving the cotton industry free water from dams on our precious floodplains, as well as rule out paying for their power lines and roads. The Territory’s rivers are too precious to lose,” concluded Dr Howey.
Here are key questions that the Gunner Government’s floodplain extraction policy must answer:
- What peer-reviewed studies and modelling has the Gunner Government obtained during the development of the draft policy, and will these be publicly released for scrutiny?
- Who has the Gunner Government consulted about the floodplain harvesting policy so far? Any environmental groups or members of the public, or just their cotton mates?
- How will the Government avoid double-dipping that would lead to over-extraction from our rivers? Surface water on our floodplains is what recharges our aquifers that many Territorians rely on for their drinking water and livelihoods, and that keep our environment healthy – especially in the Dry. If the cotton industry wants to take surface water from floodplains, then extract groundwater from the same system, how will the Government stop irreversible damage to these systems?
- What measures will be put in place to ensure that any Surface Water Harvesting Policy that facilitates the extraction of water from floodplains will protect the health of rivers, fishing tourism businesses and biodiversity?
-
Cotton concerns for Top End water prominent for NT residents
Learn moreRecent polling has revealed that the threat posed by large-scale cotton operations remains a key concern for Northern Territory residents – particularly in relation to recreational fishing along iconic river systems.
“Territorians have made it clear they have serious concerns about the threat posed by large-scale cotton projects in the Top End, which is shining through strongly in these new polling figures,” said Jason Fowler from the Environment Centre NT.
- 69.4% of Territorians polled said that the cotton industry shouldn’t be allowed into the Territory until they fix up their mess in the Murray-Darling basin.
- 60.8% of Territorians are opposed to the NT Government giving taxpayer funded subsidies to the cotton industry to establish operations in the NT.
“It’s clear that Big Cotton industry plans are disconnected from community expectations of healthy rivers, fishing and lifestyle. We know that fishing is an important part of the Top End lifestyle, with 63% of respondents stating that they use rivers in the Top End for fishing, boating or other recreational activities.”
“Territorians want a healthy future for our rivers, they care deeply about their health for water flows, fishing and are concerned about the industry push for large-scale cotton that would put iconic Territory rivers like the Daly at risk.”
“The spectre of reduced water flows, large-scale devastation and mass fish kills along the Murray Darling is a very real concern for NT residents, with 69.4% of respondents concerned about large cotton companies being allowed into the Territory before they fix the problems they have caused in the Murray Darling,” said Mr Fowler.
“We’re seeing continued industry calls for Territory residents to provide millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies to prop up large agriculture proposals driven by cotton. It’s deeply concerning to see big business push for more water from floodplains, more land clearing and a widespread disregard for maintaining healthy river systems.”
“We can’t let our iconic rivers like the Daly and Roper be degraded and destroyed as has happened to other rivers in southern Australia. It’s time for big business and government to start listening to Territorians and do more to look after the health of our rivers, lifestyle and the jobs that rely on their health now and into the future,” concluded Mr Fowler.
Polling commissioned by the Environment Centre NT and undertaken by uComms, who conducted a survey of 837 residents in the Northern Territory seats of Blain, Brennan, Casuarina, Daly, Drysdale, Fannie Bay, Fong Lim, Johnston, Karama, Katherine, Nightcliff, Port Darwin, Sanderson, Spillett, and Wanguri during the nights of the 10th & 11th February 2021.