NTRC welcomes the MRM decision but says this cannot happen again. Comment by environmental lobby is ill informed.

NTRC welcomes yesterday's draft notification by Minister Garrett that he intends to confirm previous approvals for expansion of Xstrata's McArthur River Mine.· The NTRC says that the very substantial benefits that the remote community of Boorooloola enjoys through its relationship with MRM can now start to flow again, but warns that this experience cannot be allowed to re-occur.

"This episode has brought a substantial remote community to the brink of ruin" says CEO Scott Perkins.

"Threats from the economic downturn are bad enough already, let alone having to deal with the possibility of a complete shutdown of a site like this" he says.

"This substantial mining operation has already brought sustainable jobs to local people.· To have even contemplated losing those jobs and all the other community support that these operations bring defies logic" he added.

The NTRC is calling on all parties now have to find a way to make sure that this does not happen again.

"This is a matter of sovereign risk" says Perkins.

"This episode has not only caused community stress, it has sent a message to all mining companies that potentially, they could be made stop on a moment's notice

"There now needs to be a clear message from Government, from communities and from any other stakeholders giving the mining industry some confidence that this won't happen again

"This sort of thing provides a huge disincentive to business at a time that we can least afford it" he says.

The NTRC also notes that there has been ill informed and inaccurate comment from the environmental lobby concerning the environmental performance of the mine, and further comments that the MRM operation has complied with all of relevant Federal and Territory legislation - applications and approvals that have now been examined in detail through court processes over the course of many hearings and appeals.·

"This mine is now one of the most intensely examined mines in the country and we now need to leave the company to get on with the very important business of creating community wealth, knowing it is subject to strict accountability measures through the relevant regulations" says Perkins.·

Ends 23 January 2009

For further information call Scott Perkins (Mobile: 0419759040)