MEMORANDUM 1

3 Creche building opens

4-6 Independent Monitor Report released

8-9 Pull-out poster

11 Buckle Up Borroloola

MemorandumMarch 2017 – Edition 35

MemorandumMemorandum is a quarterly publication of McArthur River Mining. To submit stories or subscribe to our mailing list, email rebecca.gentle@glencore.com.au

Our coverIndo-Pacific Environmental conducts studies on behalf of McArthur River Mine and part of its role is to involve the local community with the program. Many people in the Gulf region would have seen Dr Dean Thorburn and his team around Borroloola and outstations over the past few months. In November, they held an open day at

Borroloola crossing demonstrating how they undertake their sampling. Pictured on our cover is Michael Taylor from Indo-Pacific Environmental with Borroloola School students at the Open Day. Read more about the Open Day on page 7.

Pull out poster

Turn to pages 8 and 9 for a special pullout poster showing the mining process at MRM.

Stay in touchWebsite: Our website is full of information about our operations, our

environment and our community, as well as our latest career opportunities and publications. Go to www.mcarthurrivermine.com.au

MRM Community App: Stay in touch with everything happening at MRM through our community app. To download the app, search for MRM community in iTunes, Google Play or Amazon Appstore.

Phone: Call our toll free number on 1800 211 573

Email: mrmprojenq@glencore.com.au

Message from the General Manager

This month we reach a major milestone at MRM with the lodgement of our draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the long-term management of waste rock on site.

The Draft EIS has been lodged as a result of the reclassification of waste rock on site. In essence, we have much less clean rock than originally thought and the design of our waste rock piles needed to change. This requires approval through an EIS process.

Known as the Overburden Management Project, the studies completed over the past-two-and-half years give a clear picture of how the mine will develop over the next 20 years of mining and for many years beyond. The project has taken a long time because we wanted it to be comprehensive. We’ve focussed on how the land will look after the mine closes and what will become of the three main domains in operation – the open cut, the waste rock pile and the tailings dam.

In addition to the scientific and technical studies, we’ve spent hundreds of hours consulting with more than 400 local people, government, organisations and other stakeholders to gain their input into the project. I am looking forward to talking more with people through the official consultation program through March and April.

It was a pleasure to represent the MRM Community Benefits Trust on the handover of the Wanula Crèche in Borroloola late last year. The building of this crèche has been a real partnership between the community, the Trust and the Federal Government and will provide a much-needed facility for the local community. It will be great to see parents who want to work have the opportunity to do so now there are additional child care places available in a safe and welcoming environment.

This year we are looking to recruit about 100 more people at MRM because we need to move more waste rock this year to uncover the ore. Our managers have been identifying the opportunities that are available with a particular focus on providing jobs for local people.

Many people from Borroloola and surrounds have approached me in the past about getting jobs at the mine. Some of them have worked for other businesses that are no longer operating in the area. In response to this, we’ve held a number of recruitment days and it was great to welcome 24 potential recruits to site in February and March to have a look around.

I look forward to the next open community meeting in Borroloola. Last year we opened the Community Reference Group to everyone in the community and I believe it has led to much more open and transparent communication between us.

Finally, I wish to extend the sincerest condolences of myself and everyone at MRM to the family of the Senior Gurdanji custodian who passed away recently. He was recognised as a proud and strong representative of the Gurdanji people, their families and their land. We have been privileged to have worked with this old man and to have benefitted from his wisdom and knowledge over many years.

Sam Strohmayr General Manager

2 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

MEMORANDUM 3

New crèche opens for Borroloola kidsBorroloola residents came together to celebrate the handover of the new Wanula Crèche in November.

The $2.6 million crèche, partly funded through a $1.06 million grant from the McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust (CBT), will improve facilities for local children and increase access to work opportunities for families.

With places for around 30 children, the crèche is a far cry from the old building, which was subject to flooding in heavy rain and was no longer suitable for its purpose.

It was custom designed following extensive consultation with the local community.

Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Indigenous Corporation was able to leverage the CBT grant to attract $875,000 funding from the Department of Education and ABA. It also contributed $750,000 of its own funds to the project.

Handing over the building with Mabunji Chairperson Annie Roberts, MRM General Manager Sam Strohmayr said the crèche would significantly improve health and safety conditions for children.

“The building will provide a safe environment for staff and 30 children aged 0 to 5. This increase in capacity will open up more places to allow parents to participate in work.”

Mabunji chairperson Annie Roberts said there were a number of local people who have been held back from seeking employment due to the lack of child care places available.

“This will open up new opportunities for Borroloola families,” she said.

Borroloola-based company Cairns Industries was contracted to construct the facility using local workers.

With the new crèche declared open, residents pour through the doors to see the new space.

“This will open up new opportunities for Boroloola families”

Sam Evans gave one of the Welcome to Country speeches at the opening.

4 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

In December 2016, the Independent Monitor (IM) released a report on the environmental performance of McArthur River Mine (MRM) covering the period October 2014 to September 2015.

We take the findings of the IM Report seriously. Glencore has been transparent and open about the challenges facing MRM and we remain committed to engaging with the Northern Territory Government, the local community of Borroloola and other key stakeholders to provide information about our performance and ongoing progress.

Our top priorities remain the health and safety of our workforce, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our operation and making a positive contribution to the community and the Northern Territory.

The IM Report covers a period that ended 14 months ago and further improvements have been made at the operation.

In the Report, the IM has noted substantial improvements at the site, including:

• Effective management of the Tailings Storage Facility including safety improvements.

• Placement of large woody debris into the McArthur River channel has seen the establishment of fish communities comparable to the natural river.

• Significant improvements in the collection of data for both day-to-day management and the understanding of specific issues.

• Improved understanding of geochemical properties of key waste rock types, based on further testing.

• Upgraded water monitoring network which allows real-time analysis of water levels at MRM.

The IM recommended a number of areas for improvement, many of which have already been addressed.

This factsheet has been developed to provide our stakeholders with a high level summary of the key issues or observations made in the IM Report and to outline steps MRM has taken since the reporting period to address these matters.

In 2013, following detailed test work, MRM reported a change in the characterisation of waste rock to the regulator. MRM’s tests identified material in the waste rock that was saline and/or metalliferous, which may increase the potential for saline and metalliferous drainage at the mine.

MRM is currently undertaking an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to finalise a design for the long-term management of our waste rock.

For the period October 2014 to September 2015, the IM has noted significant improvements in the management of waste rock, including:

• Better understanding of the geochemical properties of waste rock.

• Compaction testing frequencies generally meeting or exceeding specifications.

• Identification of additional clean waste sufficient for the waste rock cover design.

• The use of ‘paddock dumping’, compaction and protection layers to limit desiccation and cracking.

• Appointment of an Independent Certifying Engineer.

These improvements will be further supported by the current EIS process to ensure safe and environmentally sound long-term management of waste rock.

Further improvements achieved since the IM reporting period include:

• Removal and processing of Low Grade Ore stockpiles.

• Constructing the first High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) lined runoff dam.

• Continued refinement of the waste rock classification system.

Independent Monitor Report Special Feature

Waste rock

Paddock dumping of waste rock has been praised by the Independent Monitor.

Tailings are finely ground rock and mineral waste products remaining after metal has been extracted from the mined ore. Tailings are pumped from the MRM processing plant to the tailing storage facility (made up of different storage cells) where the rock material settles and the water typically moves to the centre where it is collected and recycled.

The MRM Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is inspected regularly and continues to be monitored and reviewed by industry experts for dam safety and integrity at regular intervals. A detailed monthly report is submitted to the regulator covering a range of monitoring data including water inflows and outflows and seepage collection records.

For the period October 2014 to September 2015, the IM has noted the most significant success for the TSF is the effective pond management, with evidence that a beach of at least 50

metres is being maintained, that pond water is being efficiently reclaimed and the establishment of safe operating levels.

The report also noted:

• The construction of 1 metre raise of the Cell 2 wall based on a successful field trial, with reviews by independent consultants and the Independent Tailings Review Board.

• Renewed efforts to identify and quantify TSF seepage potentially affecting Surprise Creek.

• Improvements to Cell 1 surface water management.

• Reductions in seepage through the spillway and southwest corner of TSF Cell 2.

• Training for personnel undertaking TSF inspections.

• The establishment of new operating guidelines, operating limits, triggers and actions.

Further improvements undertaken since the IM reporting period include:

• Completed comprehensive hydrogeological drilling program at the TSF.

• Developed TSF groundwater model to assess seepage mitigation options.

• Seepage has stopped in the southwest corner of Cell 2 and all rock mattress piezometers have been dry since May 2016.

Tailings Storage Facility

MEMORANDUM 5

For the period October 2014 to September 2015, the IM has noted that the monitoring of the aquatic ecosystem around McArthur River Mine continues to improve yearly. The most positive developments in the current reporting period include:

• Establishing a new method to monitor the performance of the McArthur River diversion channel that compares complex and bare bank habitats within and outside the river channel.

• The extensive amounts of large woody debris installed at the downstream end of the McArthur

River diversion channel has remained in place for two wet seasons and fish communities in the area are comparable to those in the natural river.

• Revegetation of the McArthur River diversion channel continues to improve incrementally and as a result is providing shade and habitat in the diversion channel.

• Weed densities were very low or absent from revegetation monitoring sites in 2015, a very encouraging result of the weed management plan and the livestock management plan.

Further improvements undertaken since the IM reporting period include:

• Over 100 truckloads of large woody debris (LWD) have been delivered to the diversion with LWD piles being installed in a further 550 m of the diversion.

• An additional 20 000 plants have been planted in the diversion waterline to assist revegetation of the riparian zone and enhance habitat.

McArthur River Diversion

Water levels at the tailings dam are their lowest levels ever and an effective beach is being maintained.

Bing Bong Loading Facility

The dust extraction system at Bing Bong Loading Facility has been repaired and is fully operational.

Fish and shellfish are monitored both on and away from the mine site. In previous years the IM has noted that while there was no evidence of mine derived lead in fish and shellfish off the mine site, there was an isolated location on the mine site itself where lead has been found in small non-eating fish.

For the period October 2014 to September 2015, the IM noted:

• Improvements in the monitoring of metals in aquatic fauna program to include more sites from Surprise and Barney creeks.

• The commissioning of two reports into the potential human health impacts of contaminants in fish caught in the McArthur River. They indicate the risks to human health posed by consuming fish from the McArthur River are low.

• The IM report notes that the low levels of contamination in areas away from the mining lease and the high quantities of biota that would need to be consumed over extended periods should allay concerns about whether or not fish from the McArthur River can be consumed.

• The installation of ‘no entry’ signage at sites along Barney and Surprise Creeks where fish may be impacted on the mining

lease, such as the Barney and Surprise Creek bridges along the Carpentaria Highway.

• Declining levels of contamination in biota from beneath the internal mine haul road across Barney Creek likely due to controls implemented by MRM. For example the maximum concentration of lead recorded in rainbow fish has declined almost eight fold since 2013, and the mean by more than five times.

Since the IM reporting period, MRM has contracted Indo-Pacific Environmental to implement a detailed consultation program with the local community in and around Borroloola.

Further improvements undertaken since the IM reporting period include:

• Increase in the frequency of aquatic monitoring.

• Lead in barramundi sampled in 2016 were 200 times below the safe eating limit of 0.5mg/kg.

• Lead in bream sampled in 2016 were 55 times below the safe eating limit of 0.5mg/kg.

• Lead in cherabin (giant freshwater prawn) sampled in 2016 were 80 times below the safe eating limit of 0.5mg/kg.

Fish And Shellfish

For the period October 2014 to September 2015, the IM report has noted the considerable efforts undertaken by MRM to exclude cattle and other animals from the mine site. The report noted:

• MRM has developed a livestock management plan to aid in the exclusion of cattle from the diversion channels and the greater mine area. It is a comprehensive document and is a valuable addition to MRM’s efforts to restrict livestock from the mine site.

• The exclusion of livestock is also believed to contribute to weed management.

Cattle

6 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

MRM monitors dust on land surrounding Bing Bong Loading Facility and water quality in the swing basin and shipping channel that may be impacted by dust from our loading activities.

For the period October 2014 to September 2015, the report has noted:

• The dust extraction system in the Bing Bong Loading Facility concentrate shed has been repaired during the operational period.

• The whole of Bing Bong Loading Facility appeared to be cleaner/less dusty than during the previous site visit, despite the previous 14 months having been drier, likely due to better ‘housekeeping’ with regards to dust management.

Further improvements undertaken since the IM reporting period include:

• Installed continuous real time dust monitoring station at Bing Bong.

Mustering has contributed to a significant reduction in cattle numbers on site.

Open Day helps locals learn about fish monitoring

It sounds like a great job – spending days at a time doing nothing but catch fish. But there’s a serious side to the business for consultant Indo-Pacific Environmental (IPE).

The company is responsible for conducting a number of environmental studies on behalf of MRM including its comprehensive fish-monitoring program.

In November, scientists from the company invited the community down to the banks of the McArthur River to find out exactly how it is done.

The Open Day demonstrated the various methods for catching fish for the sampling program and showed off some of the tools of the trade.

And it’s not as easy as casting a line into the water and hoping for the best. Traditional rods and reels sit alongside sophisticated nets and even an electrofishing kit.

Depending on what the caught fish will be used for, some methods are better than others. For example, a backpack electrofisher can be carried through the water and is used to

“stun” fish using an electrical charge. This allows the scientists to estimate numbers and take measurements and then release the live fish back into the water.

“Electrofishing is a great way to fish. The backpack essentially runs off two motorcycle batteries and by adjusting the amount of power and frequency of the charge you can get fish to actually swim towards you,” IPE’s Michael Taylor said.

“You just need to very careful to remember to wear rubber waders so the operator isn’t the one getting stunned. We now have a boat unit which runs off a generator to catch larger fish, such as Barramundi, from deeper water.”

The Open Day provided the opportunity for Borroloola students to participate in the fish sampling and gain an understanding of why it is important to monitor fish in the McArthur River. In addition, senior people in the community were able to discuss with students the traditional names of the fish and share stories behind them.

“We have created posters showing the fish of the McArthur River and their scientific names which can be seen throughout town. The Open Day and other community events have been used to collect the local names of fish and we are aiming to reprint posters with these names soon,” IPE Principal Scientist Dr Dean Thorburn said.

“We value the involvement of the community in our projects. So if you see our yellow boat on the river or us at community events please come and have a chat.”

MEMORANDUM 7

8 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

Turning the ore from rock into finished products is a complex process. First, geologists and surveyors mark out where the ore is located in the pit. They can tell the difference between the ore and the waste rock. They also make sure the pit is developed in a way that is safe.

Rock is drilled then packed with explosives. The blast breaks the ore and waste rock into a smaller size that can be loaded into trucks.

Excavators scoop the broken down rock into the trucks.

Waste rock is sent to the rock pile, which is then shaped for later rehabilitation.

The ore is taken to the crusher ready for processing.

Located in the Gulf Region of the NT is the McArthurRiver Mine, the second largest lead and zinc deposit in the world.

Start here

The ore is crushed down to just 9mm through three stages of crushing. Low-grade ore goes through the Heavy Medium Plant, which uses a gravity system to separate the ore further.

All of the ore then moves through the grind-ing mills, which reduce it down to just 45 microns – just big enough for the human eye to see.

The ore is mixed with water to form a slurry and moves into large tanks where reagents are added. Some of the reagents attach themselves to the minerals, which then

float to the surface as a froth, allowing the valuable metal to be extracted.

The concentrate is pumped into thickening tanks. Heavier materials settle to the bottom, allowing much of the water to be skimmed off the top.

The final stage is to put the concentrate through a pressure filter, which squeezes virtually all of

the water out to create a fine powder.

This is then stored in a shed on the mine site ready for transport. Road trains with four trailers each are loaded inside the concentrate shed at the mine site. The trailers are covered to stop the dust getting into the surrounding air. The road trains travel 130km to the Bing Bong loading facility for storage in another shed.

From the shed, a covered conveyor belt loads the concentrate on to the MV Aburri barge. The barge takes the concentrate up to 15 nautical miles, or 28 km, out to sea.

It is then loaded on to an ocean-going vessel by covered conveyors.

From there the concentrate is shipped around the world, where smelters will

turn it into lead and zinc metals.

Zinc and lead are manufactured into products that we use every day, such

as metal alloys, batteries, weather proofing, fertilizers, mobile phones and

even vitamins.

So what we do at MRM becomes part of your everyday life.

The Mining Process

MEMORANDUM 9

Turning the ore from rock into finished products is a complex process. First, geologists and surveyors mark out where the ore is located in the pit. They can tell the difference between the ore and the waste rock. They also make sure the pit is developed in a way that is safe.

Rock is drilled then packed with explosives. The blast breaks the ore and waste rock into a smaller size that can be loaded into trucks.

Excavators scoop the broken down rock into the trucks.

Waste rock is sent to the rock pile, which is then shaped for later rehabilitation.

The ore is taken to the crusher ready for processing.

Located in the Gulf Region of the NT is the McArthurRiver Mine, the second largest lead and zinc deposit in the world.

Start here

The ore is crushed down to just 9mm through three stages of crushing. Low-grade ore goes through the Heavy Medium Plant, which uses a gravity system to separate the ore further.

All of the ore then moves through the grind-ing mills, which reduce it down to just 45 microns – just big enough for the human eye to see.

The ore is mixed with water to form a slurry and moves into large tanks where reagents are added. Some of the reagents attach themselves to the minerals, which then

float to the surface as a froth, allowing the valuable metal to be extracted.

The concentrate is pumped into thickening tanks. Heavier materials settle to the bottom, allowing much of the water to be skimmed off the top.

The final stage is to put the concentrate through a pressure filter, which squeezes virtually all of

the water out to create a fine powder.

This is then stored in a shed on the mine site ready for transport. Road trains with four trailers each are loaded inside the concentrate shed at the mine site. The trailers are covered to stop the dust getting into the surrounding air. The road trains travel 130km to the Bing Bong loading facility for storage in another shed.

From the shed, a covered conveyor belt loads the concentrate on to the MV Aburri barge. The barge takes the concentrate up to 15 nautical miles, or 28 km, out to sea.

It is then loaded on to an ocean-going vessel by covered conveyors.

From there the concentrate is shipped around the world, where smelters will

turn it into lead and zinc metals.

Zinc and lead are manufactured into products that we use every day, such

as metal alloys, batteries, weather proofing, fertilizers, mobile phones and

even vitamins.

So what we do at MRM becomes part of your everyday life.

10 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

MRM’s history of innovationMcArthur River Mine has a history built on innovation that continues today – that’s the story MRM General Manager Sam Strohmayr delivered to more than 100 guests at a Darwin Mining Club lunch in October.

In the same week the Prime Minister praised the Australian minerals sector for its innovative practices, Sam told the audience that MRM would not exist without it.

“Although it is the second largest zinc resource in the world, the MRM resource is complex to mine and the ore is extremely fine grained – which has presented both technical and economic challenges in terms of bringing the MRM product to market,” Sam said.

“For a deposit of this size to take 40 years from discovery to development highlights the extremely difficult metallurgy that it’s fine mineral size presents.”

Sam said the development of the Isamill by then parent company Mt Isa Mines was the first of three technological breakthrough that have made MRM possible.

“The technology actually came from the chocolate and paint

pigment industries. We’re very fortunate to have two key engineers involved in this technology development working with us now. They tell some pretty amusing tales of the early prototypes only lasting minutes before destroying themselves,” he said.

Today the Isamills are sold all over the world by Glencore Technology group.

The second major innovation was the rechanneling of the McArthur River to allow the conversation underground to open cut operations.

“Nine years on we’ve planted 250,000 trees and shrubs along the diversion, fish diversity and abundance is at 90-95% of natural conditions,” Sam said.

“We’re extremely proud of the progress we’ve made to date and we’re very confident that with time the channel will be indistinguishable from the original river.

“Our third world first has been the in-house development of a hybrid hydrometallurgical process called PBOX to enable the separation of our lead and zinc minerals into saleable lead and zinc concentrates. The process now enables us to make three products: bulk, zinc and lead concentrates, opening up new markets for MRM.”

Sam, who worked as a graduate engineer at the start of MRM operations in the mid 90s, said the mine was now working on a solution to its latest challenge – the geological nature of waste rock that can lead to some spontaneously combusting if not handled correctly.

“We have a fantastic track record of overcoming significant challenges in the past and I’m very confident that we’ll find a suitable solution to this latest environmental challenge that balances the very real and understandable concerns from our stakeholders with the economic realities of the operation,” he said.

“This is the key objective of the EIS process to demonstrate that balance.”

Mining is all about peopleThe value of people to the mining business was the main takeout when Glencore Zinc’s Greg Ashe gave the keynote speech at the Minerals Council of Australia Northern Territory Gala Dinner in December.

Greg reflected on his 30 years in mining and said he could not have made it through without the support

of his wife Erin, family and the people he has worked with.

He outlined how his family had moved to a new job every two to three years, lived in three different countries, nine different towns and 13 different homes. His children went to seven different schools speaking three different languages as he moved about for work.

“Let’s just say I wasn’t the most popular guy in the room when I came home with the next new opportunity,” he said.

Greg said his own experience underlined the importance of supporting those working in mining as well as their families at home.

“Although, we incorporate the latest technology and innovation into our respective operations, we are really in the business of people,” Greg said.

“That is what truly drives our organisations and behind all of our people must be a successful support system both at work and at home.”

MRM General Manager Sam Strohmayr speaking at the Darwin Mining Club lunch in October.

Buckle Up BorroloolaBorroloola babies can now buckle up more easily with the launch of a new road safety service in the Gulf region. Buckle Up Borroloola offers child restraints fitted to local vehicles for just $20.

MRM has partnered with the NT Motor Accidents Compensation Commission (MACC) and Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Indigenous Corporation to deliver the program, with support from Kidsafe NT and Northern Territory Police.

Research in Borroloola earlier this year revealed up to 65% of children under seven were travelling in vehicles without proper child restraints. This is despite it being a legal requirement to use an approved child restraint for all children up to seven years old.

Reasons for non-compliance include vehicle overcrowding, cost and availability of restraints, lack of qualified fitters and apathy. Another issue is that children often travel in cars owned by friends or relatives who do not have child restraints fitted.

Buckle Up Borroloola overcomes the issues of cost, access and lack of qualified fitters. Anyone who regularly carries children under seven in their

car is able to have an approved child restraint installed by an accredited fitter for just $20 at a Mabunji office.

MAC Commissioner Jim Colvin said only 8% of Indigenous children killed or seriously injured in car accidents over the past 10 years were wearing seatbelts or child restraints compared with 40 per cent of non-Indigenous children.

“There is clearly an issue in Indigenous communities that we have to change,” he said.

“It’s been great to get the support of McArthur River Mine and Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Centre. Without them this program would not happen.”

McArthur River Mine General Manager Sam Strohmayr said MRM was committed to programs to support the local community.

“Through our Community Benefits Trust we have supported 76 programs with $12.3 million over the past nine years. We’re proud to be able to support this important road safety initiative,” he said.

Six staff from Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Indigenous Corporation underwent two-day accredited training to become expert fitters of child restraints. They can not only fit the seats, but also give advice to

parents and families about how to protect their children in the car. They each received their certificate at the launch in Borroloola in November.

Mabunji chairperson Annie Roberts said keeping kids safe was an important goal for Mabunji.

“It’s great to see such strong support from the program partners to keeping our kids safe,” she said.

Borroloola School also got involved with the program, making a radio advertisement for Mabunji Radio.

Trained fitters from Mabunji make sure this toddler is safe in the family car.

The newly-trained fitters receive their certificates.

MEMORANDUM 11

McArthur River Mine will be host to northern Australia’s premier emergency response contest in June.

The Northern Australian Emergency Response Competition (NAERC) will be held on site with teams from across the Territory and beyond, including Indonesia.

Environment Safety and People Manager Ryan Pascoe said the competition was a valuable opportunity for both local and international emergency response teams to refine their skills across a wide range of realistic emergency response scenarios. Competitions are also an opportunity to demonstrate competency, and identify potential gaps in training and knowledge.

General Manager Sam Strohmayr said it was essential that MRM maintained a high level of training and vigilance among its Emergency Response Team and the competition gave them the opportunity to hone their skills

“The emergency response team need ongoing training to provide high level response to incidents with the potential to threaten lives and assets both on the mine site itself as well as the broader community.

“Our highly skilled emergency response team is often called on to assist in emergency situations in the community.

“McArthur River Mine has a rich history in the Northern Australian Competition. We’ve won multiple events since 2006, including the Best Overall Team in 2010,” said Sam.

MRM has announced a nine-member training squad for the event, which will be held from June 19 to 22.

MRM’s Emergency Response Team at an earlier competition.

MRM to host mines rescue competition

Charities benefit from golf daysEleven charities have shared in $160,000 in funding from the MRM Charity Golf Days of 2015 and 2016.

The mid-year golf days are widely supported by MRM contractors, suppliers and staff. Money raised is typically given out every two years to a range of charities.

This year, the following each received up to $15,000 from the proceeds:

• Anglicare NT

• Beyond Blue

• The Smith Family

• Darwin Nightcliff Lions Cub

• Catholic Care

• The Salvation Army

• St Vincent de Paul Society NT

• Heart Foundation

• Cancer Council of the NT

• CareFlight

• Menzies School of Health Research.

12 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

MEMORANDUM 13

Promotions strengthen MRM team

A series of staff appointments across MRM and Glencore have underscored the value of promoting from within the organisation.

Former Metallurgy and Port Manager John Andreatidis has taken on a new role in Glencore advising on mill operations across Glencore operations in Australia and globally.

John worked for MRM at the start of its operations and returned to the business three years ago. MRM General Manager Sam Strohmayr said John led initiatives that now see the mill run safer, cleaner and better performing.

His promotion has allowed for former Site Electrical Superintendent James Wellington to take John’s

former role as part of MRM’s senior management team. James joined MRM in 2015 from a management role at BHP after hearing about MRM from former workmates.

“Everyone said how good it was, so when the opportunity came up I was really pleased,” James said.

“One thing I am passionate about is mentoring people within the organisation to allow them to take the next step up.”

Consistent with this is the appointment of former Site Electrical Engineer Darren Coleman into James’s previous position. All appointments took effect from 23 February.

Find out about the EIS in BorroloolaGulf region residents will be able to find out about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the management of waste rock at MRM during March and April.

Our Community Relations Team will be visiting Borroloola on a regular basis with information about the Project during the Draft EIS consultation period.

The Draft EIS has been lodged with the Northern Territory Government and is open for a six-week consultation period until 3 May. During this time organisations, businesses and individuals can read through the detailed documents in the Draft EIS and make comment to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority.

To assist locals to access the information, the MRM Community Relations will have information in Borroloola until the submission period closes on 3 May. There will also be an open community meeting in the town at a date to be advertised.

Site tours are being organised for local residents and posters around Borroloola will provide more details on how people can join one of the tours.

A copy of the EIS documentation is also available to view at the Roper Gulf office in Borroloola.

New Metallurgy and Port Manager james Wellington

Getting ready for local jobsLocal people are getting ready for a ramp up in operations at MRM this Dry season.

Around 100 new jobs will be created this year as the amount of waste rock to be moved increases.

MRM’s Human Resources team has been working with department managers over the past few months to identify programs in which we can provide job opportunities for the local community. Trainee and apprentice roles will be available within each of the areas.

At the same time, we have also been talking to local people about the opportunities that may be available through two recruitment days in Borroloola.

In February, 24 local people visited the mine site to have a look at operations and meet with managers.

They also got to look at various functional areas as well as discuss career development opportunities if their application is successful.

MRM Human Resources and Training Superintendent Carina Graham said the day was a great success, with another planned in March.

“We met 24 very driven and enthusiastic candidates and they all left in high spirits at the end of the day,” Carina said.

14 MARCH 2017 - EDITION 35

MEMORANDUM 15 MEMORANDUM 15

Water management improvements at McArthur River Mine have proven their value during rain associated with Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February.

All dams on site remain below their maximum operating levels despite receiving more than 160mm of rain over four days.

MRM General Manager Sam Strohmayr said the mine entered the wet season with the lowest water levels ever on site.

“We were very well prepared, even for a season that has been much wetter than usual and a big rain event in February,” Sam said.

“Obviously we need to stay vigilant but I am very happy with how our water management systems have performed.”

Improvements to water management include the recycling of water in the tailings dam, lining of water storage dams. increased pumping capacity and robust water monitoring.

There was one minor issue with run-off water escaping from the old tailings dam Cell 1, which is capped

with clay and partially rehabilitated. This did not involve tailings or tailings water. It was reported to Government and the impact on the environment is expected to be negligible.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred dumped upwards of 300mm of rain in some parts of the Gulf, damaging local roads and infrastructure. Road damage limited road trains to one trailer for some period.

Cyclone Alfred puts Gulf to the test

Water quality updateOur Waste Discharge Licence approved by the Environmental Protection Agency outlines the allowable levels of metals and other materials in the water at a compliance point downstream from the mine to protect the McArthur River.

The top figures are the allowable concentrations under our Waste Discharge Licence, set by the Environment Protection Authority. The bottom figures are the average concentrations over the fourth quarter of 2016 at our compliance

point on the McArthur River downstream from the mine.

The exceedances in aluminum are due to naturally occurring metals in the environment, which is confirmed by readings upstream of the mine.

March 2017www.mcarthurrivermine.com.au

Draft Environmental Impact StatementOVERBURDEN MANAGEMENT PROJECT

McArthur River Mine (MRM) is an existing open cut mining operation, developing one of the largest known sedimentary stratiform zinc-lead-silver deposits in the world. MRM is located approximately 65 kilometres south-west of the township of Borroloola, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory. The Overburden Management Project (the ‘Project’) for McArthur River Mine originated from an improved understanding of the overburden (waste rock) geochemistry and the need to manage it differently from previous proposals. However, the extensive studies conducted for this Environmental Impact Statement have also facilitated a site-wide assessment of environmental management and mine closure planning which has substantially refined a number of previous strategies.

The key elements of the Project proposed by the EIS are:

• Redesign of the overburden emplacement facilities to manage overburden geochemistry;

• to reduce the footprint of overburden emplacement facilities by increasing the height of the main, north facility from 80 metres to 140 metres, and positioning others inside rather than outside the mine levee wall to improve waste management methods and water management;

• re-processing of tailings waste and placement within the open cut final void upon cessation of processing, removal of the Tailings Storage Facility and rehabilitation of the former facility area;

• a revised open cut final void closure strategy; and

• an acknowledgement of the need to plan for ongoing monitoring and management in the long-term to maintain protection of the downstream environment.

In accordance with the provisions of the Northern Territory Environmental Assessment Act, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) has been prepared. The Draft EIS describes the project, its potential environmental impacts and proposed environmental management measures.

The Draft EIS will be available for public comment from 22 March 2017 to 3 May 2017.

This project has been referred to the Federal Department of the Environment and Energy and has been determined to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (reference number 2014/7210). The controlling provisions under the EPBC Act are listed threatened species and communities (Sections 18 and 18A). The Australian Government has accredited the assessment process under the Northern Territory Environmental Assessment Act for the purposes of assessing the project under the EPBC Act.

Public Viewing of the Draft EIS

The full report can be viewed and downloaded from the McArthur River Mine website www.mcarthurrivermine.com.au and the NT EPA website www.ntepa.nt.gov.au

Hard copies of the Draft EIS are also available for viewing at the following locations:

• NT Environment Protection Authority, Level 1, Arnhemica House, 16 Parap Rd, Parap

• Department of Primary Industry and Resources, 3rd Floor, Paspalis Centrepoint, 48 Smith Street Mall, Darwin

• Roper Gulf Council building, Borroloola (ph. 8975 8618)

• Environment Centre Northern Territory, Unit 3, 98 Woods St, Darwin

• Northern Territory Library, Parliament House, Darwin.

Invitation to comment

Interested persons and organisations are invited to examine the Draft EIS for the Overburden Management Project and make written submissions on or before 3 May 2017. Submissions can be emailed to eia.ntepa@nt.gov.au or posted to:

Environmental Assessments Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority GPO Box 3675 Darwin NT 0801

McARTHUR RIVER MINING