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What's New
Mining officials from the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment
The official opening of the AusAID PSLP (Public Sector Linkages Program) Indonesian Mining Environmental Training Course was held at Charles Darwin University (CDU) on Monday 20 November. The program is a collaborative effort between the Australian Government (SSD & AusAID), CDU, the Northern Territory Government and the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment and will be run over the next month. The aim of the course is to equip officers from the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment with the knowledge and skills they need to appropriately manage and regulate environmental aspects of mining activities in Indonesia, and to train others to undertake such regulation.
The training program was officially launched by Mr David Tollner MP, Federal Member for Solomon. He spoke after a brief welcome by course coordinator, Dr Rick van Dam (SSD), the Larrakia 'Welcome to Country' given by Donna Odegarrd (Larrakia Nation), and speeches by Professor Chris Austin (Head, School of Sciences & Primary Industries, CDU) and Mr Richard Sellers (Executive Director, Minerals & Energy Division, NT Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines).
Dave Tollner MP, Federal Member for Solomon/Jennifer Ramsay ,CDU and Rick van Dam ,SSD
Chris Austin welcomed attendees and expressed CDU's pleasure at hosting a course that would contribute to further strengthening relations with Indonesia. He highlighted the particular interest that AusAID showed in the Workplace Training and Assessment component of the course which represents a 'cut-down version' of the existing Certificate IV in Workplace training and assessment and CDU's commitment to transforming the way land, water, mineral and energy resources are utilised through a better understanding of environmental systems and the use of new technologies.
Richard Sellars spoke about mining in the tropics and the importance of proper and rigorous environmental regulation and monitoring, and highlighted links between the Territory and Indonesian Governments. He also acknowledged the broad contribution that the NT Govt is making to the course and expressed the NT Govt's strong support of this and enthusiasm to be involved.
Mining officials from Indonesian Ministry of the Environment and SSD staff
David Tollner, representing the Australian Government on behalf of Parliamentary Secretary, Greg Hunt, officially opened the course. He noted AusAID's strong support and funding for the project to help build the capacity of the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment to manage the environmental impacts of mining. He acknowledged the input from CDU and the NT Government and in particular the contribution of staff from the Supervising Scientist Division. It is the first major project under the Australia - Indonesia Ministerial Forum Working Group on the Environment and, he noted, it is one of a range of environmental projects the Australian Government is working on together with partners in the region. In the course of covering issues such as minesite environmental regulation, water quality impacts, monitoring and assessment, and minesite closure and rehabilitation, he noted that participants would visit five mine sites in the Top End to enable them to see key aspects of mining environmental management in action.
After the official welcome, attendees enjoyed refreshments organised by CDU's Jennifer Ramsay. On Monday 27 November the course participants will be attending SSD for a day of lectures and case studies. A lunch will be hosted in the DEH Darwin courtyard for staff meet the course participants.
Donna Odegarrd, Larrakia Nation/Prof Chris Austin, CDU/Richard Sellers, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines
Richard McAllister
Mr Richard McAllister was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Supervising Scientist in April 2006, replacing Mr Alan Hughes who has been promoted to Supervising Scientist.
Between May 2003 and April 2006, Mr McAllister was Director of the Supervision and Audit Section with the Office of the Supervising Scientist.
Prior to May 2003 he worked in the Northern Land Council's Mining Branch, and before that, in the Environmental Assessment Branch of the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and Environment.
Between 1994 and 1998 he worked as a research officer, water engineer and environmental engineer for EWL Sciences Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd, in Darwin and Jabiru.
He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree, majoring in hydrology, hydraulics and geomechanics, and a Master of Environmental Engineering Science degree majoring in the physical, chemical and biological aspects of surface and ground water, environmental management and law and solid waste management.
Alan Hughes
Mr Alan Hughes has been appointed as the Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory. Prior to this appointment, Alan was the Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Supervising Scientist where he was responsible for assessing the environmental aspects of uranium mining proposals in the Alligator Rivers Region and for site inspections and environmental protection audits of uranium mining and exploration operations in the region. He holds an Honours degree in Science from the University of New England.
Alan has a strong background in environmental mine management and uranium mining regulation, including having worked for the Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development as the uranium advisor. He has extensive experience in mineral exploration having worked as a geologist on mining related projects throughout Australia and overseas.
