The NT Independent is providing an update of resource news from across the Northern Territory. Highlights this week include Rio Tinto financially backing up ERA’s Ranger mine rehabilitation, CuFe Limited benefiting from bigger copper amounts at its Orlando deposit, Astro Resources finding polymetallic at its Central Project, and Arafura Rare Earths getting more financial support from international credit agency.

More than $135,000 worth of bookings for the peak tourism season were cancelled last week alone because of the ongoing crime issues currently plaguing the Northern Territory, a tourism body has said amid the Fyles Government’s claims that the industry is performing better than ever and that the NT has become “a preferred holiday destination for Australians”.

Interstate and international tourists are now required to buy a Parks Pass to visit the NT’s more than a dozen swimming spots and famous parks.

Six Tiwi Islands traditional owners and one Larrakia traditional owner have filed human rights complaints with 12 Australian and international banks, imploring the financial institutions to cut a $1.5 billion loan to Santos in hopes of stopping its Barossa offshore gas project, their lawyers have said.

A WA-based civil construction company has been convicted and fined $425,000 for failing to comply with workplace laws that resulted in the death of a worker at the INPEX LNG facility in November 2017.

Five Puma service stations at Howard Springs, Humpty Doo, Palmerston, Nightcliff and Whishart Road will close at 6pm Thursday as OTR (formerly On The Run) prepares to take over the outlets’ operation, which will start on April 1.