McArthur River explained

McArthur
Name Etymology:James McArthur
Map Size:250
Pushpin Map:Australia Northern Territory
Pushpin Map Size:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Northern Territory, Australia
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Australia
Subdivision Type2:Territory
Subdivision Name2:Northern Territory
Subdivision Type3:Region
Subdivision Name3:Katherine Region
Length:521km (324miles)
Discharge1 Avg:103.6m3/s
Source1:Barkly Tableland
Source1 Location:east of
Source1 Elevation:234m (768feet)
Mouth:Gulf of Carpentaria
Mouth Location:east of
Mouth Coordinates:-15.9°N 176°W
Mouth Elevation:0m (00feet)
Basin Size:20010km2
Extra:[1]

The McArthur River is a river in the Northern Territory of Australia which flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria at Port McArthur, opposite the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands. The river was named by Ludwig Leichhardt while he explored the area in 1845.[2] He named the River after James MacArthur and the MacArthur family of Camden, who were enthusiastic supporters of his expedition.[3] The McArthur River has significance for the local Aboriginal communities, who use it for fishing and other traditional activities.[4]

Description

The McArthur River basin covers 20010km2.[5] [6] The basin is situated between the Rosie River catchment to the north, the Limmen Bight River to the east, the Barkly River catchment to the south and the Robinson River catchment to the west. The mean annual runoff is 3270000ML per year.[7] The headwaters of the rivers rise on the northern edge of the Barkly Tableland. Tributaries of the McArthur River include Tooganginie Creek, and the Kilgour and Clyde rivers.

The river has a long tidal estuary which extends inland to the town of Borroloola. The estuary is in near-pristine condition,[8] and forms part of the Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System Important Bird Area.[9]

McArthur River zinc mine expansion

In 2007, plans to expand the McArthur River zinc mine, one of the world's largest zinc mines, were halted by a decision of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. It was found that the approval of the expansion by Mines Minister Chris Natt was invalid.[10] Traditional owners were concerned the proposal, which included a 5.5km (03.4miles) river diversion, had serious, long term and irreversible impacts.[11]

In 2008, the case was heard by the Federal Court, which found that the expansion was illegal.[12] In early 2009, the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett formally approved the mine's expansion.[4] [13] Garrett placed conditions on the project which aimed to reduce the impact on the freshwater sawfish and migratory birds.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Map of McArthur River, NT . 11 December 2015 . Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
  2. News: Borroloola . 19 August 2011 . 8 February 2004 . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media.
  3. Web site: Place Names Register Extract - Mcarthur River River . 17 May 2015 . NT Place Names Register . Northern Territory Government.
  4. News: Garrett approves MRM zinc mine expansion . 19 August 2011 . 20 February 2009 . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media.
  5. Web site: Landscape - carbon, nutrients, water and productivity - McArthur River . 6 May 2009 . Australian Natural Resources Atlas . Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . 19 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602122101/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/land/carbon/nt/basin-mcarthur-river.html . 2 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Drainage Divisions . 2005 . 18 May 2015 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150401173613/http://lrm.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/20809/map01.pdf . 1 April 2015.
  7. Web site: Water resources - Availability - Northern Territory . 13 May 2009 . Australian Natural Resources Atlas . Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . 19 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602192650/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/availability/nt/basin-mcarthur-river.html . 2 June 2011 . dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Estuary Assessment 2000: Basin: McArthur River . 20 June 2009 . Australian Natural Resources Atlas . Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . 19 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602040953/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/coasts/estuary/nt/basin-mcarthur-river.html . 2 June 2011 . dmy-all.
  9. BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System. Downloaded from Web site: BirdLife International - conserving the world's birds . 18 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070710124603/http://www.birdlife.org/ . 10 July 2007. on 22/09/2011.
  10. News: McArthur River mine expansion 'invalid' . 19 August 2011 . 30 April 2007 . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  11. Web site: Current Campaigns » Mining » McArthur River . The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory . 19 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903180648/http://www.ecnt.org/html/cur_mining_mcarthur_new.html . 3 September 2011 . dmy-all.
  12. News: Territory Govt seeks action on McArthur River Mine . 19 August 2011 . 18 December 2008 . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  13. News: McArthur River Mine expansion gets green light . 19 August 2011 . 20 February 2009 . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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