Nathan River Resources has been fined $344,000 for breaching its waste licence by discharging mining wastewater into the Towns River near Borroloola early last year.

NRR operates the Roper Bar iron ore mine in Limmen National Park, 600 kilometres south-east of Darwin.

According to court records, a wet season deluge in February 2021 saw a significant amount of contaminated wastewater pumped out of the mine’s pits and into the Towns River on multiple occasions.

The company pleaded guilty to four offences in September and was fined $344,000.

Judge David Woodroffe said in court on Tuesday that the company’s actions created a threat of environmental harm to the area, despite no evidence of actual harm being caused from the particular incidents.

He added that NRR had failed to have preventative measures in place to deal with incidents where its pumping equipment failed, but had taken steps since the incident to ensure staff were aware of the water discharge procedures.

“However, the ultimate responsibility for the offending rests with the mining company [which showed a] lack of adherence to the strict requirements of [its] water discharge licence,” he said.

The NT Environment, Parks and Water Security Department said the breaches of waste discharge licences are taken seriously and are always investigated.

“Licence holders have a responsibility to the environment and as the regulator, we treat all reports of pollution with the respect they deserve,” said NT Controller of Water Resources Jo Townsend.

“NRR did not have any authorisation, justification or excuse for discharging the mining-affected wastewater in the manner they did.”

The Environment Centre NT said while they welcomed the company being held accountable for their actions by the court, the incident showed that the NT’s regulations were weak.

“…We need to remember that this pollution occurring in the first place is a failure of mining regulations in the Northern Territory,” a spokesman told the ABC.

“Our mining laws are weak and not fit for purpose.”

Ms Townsend said anyone with information about any mine pollution incidents “is reminded to contact the NT EPA Pollution Hotline on 1800 064 567 so that they can be investigated, and appropriate action taken to prevent harm on the environment”.