Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:front:0:p81
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 232249–235224

ongoing land use on park values are managed and minimised to ensure values are maintained and Kakadu is seen as a leading destination to experience these values

Performance indicators

    * Incidents of people bringing in plants and seeds not on the Approved Plant List

    * Incidents of non-compliance with conditions associated with development approvals

Background

Kakadu has outstanding natural and cultural values and the Director has a responsibility to conserve these values and minimise the potential impacts of human use of the park. Human impacts on park values may occur as a result of new developments in the park, the activities of people living in the park, or the activities of visitors. The processes and prescriptions in this plan are intended to mitigate these potential impacts (Section 9.5: Assessment of proposals; Section 8: Living in the park - Jabiru and outstations; 10: Managing use of Kakadu National Park).

Section 387(1) of the EPBC Act provides that no mining operations be carried out in the park. This does not prevent the activities listed in s.387(2) of the Act, which include development of Jabiru, transportation of minerals along roads and routes specified in the EPBC Regulations, and construction of power lines, pipelines and water supplies.

The Supervising Scientist Division and the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), have research and monitoring functions to perform in the park under the Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978. These functions relate to uranium mining operations in the Alligator Rivers Region and general mining operations in areas that were included in the Kakadu Conservation Zone that existed in the south of the park between 1987 and 1991. The Supervising Scientist Annual Report describes the research and monitoring undertaken to ensure the protection of the Magela floodplain (and associated water bodies) from operations of the Ranger uranium mine, which adjoins the park. To date no off-site ecological impacts associated with the mining operation have been measured.

Previous small-scale uranium mining activity in the central and southern regions of the park prior to its proclamation has left mine shafts, tailings, old tracks, and radiological contamination in some locations. During the life of the previous plan, the South Alligator Valley rehabilitation plan, developed in consultation with Bininj/Mungguy and other stakeholders, was implemented and the rehabilitated areas are now being monitored. A containment facility for low-level waste has been developed in the southern part of the park. This requires ongoing licence renewal under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and monitoring of related groundwater and vegetation over the next 10 years to ensure there is no contamination.

The Kakadu Land Rehabilitation Strategy, prepared in 1995, mainly addresses old gravel pits located across the park.