Overview
To construct, install and operate water management infrastructure (pumps, pipes and marine outfall) for the transport of water from a water storage area north of Angurugu River via the Rowell Highway alignment and the Milner Bay Port Facility, and discharge it in Milner Bay.
The proposed action is located on NT Portions 1031, 1305, 1306, 1632, 1669 & 1671 on the western side of Groote Eylandt at / adjacent to the Port, Rowell Highway and GEMCO’s Western Leases.
The water management infrastructure is proposed to have a water discharge capacity of up to 80 gigalitres per annum to manage increased saline groundwater ingress into the mining quarries as the pit depth increases and mining progresses towards the coast.
On 28 October 2025, the NT EPA determined that the GEMCO Excess Water Disposal Project required standard assessment by supplementary environmental report (SER).
Why we are consulting
Your feedback plays an important role and will be considered by the NT EPA in deciding whether the proposed action requires environmental impact assessment, and if so the required method of assessment.
Consultation helps the NT EPA and proponent to identify issues of concern and potential effects, as well as get feedback from stakeholders on project options or potential mitigation measures.
The NT EPA has prepared a guide for making a public submission PDF (299.3 KB) that outlines when comments will be sought, how to make an effective comment and what will happen to your comment.
Statutory notice (5 February 2026)
The NT EPA invites public comment on the SER submitted for the GEMCO Excess Water Disposal Project, by Groote Eylandt Mining Company Pty Ltd (GEMCO).
The SER can be inspected and obtained below. Interested persons may make a submission by 12 March 2026. The NT EPA publishes this notice in accordance with regulation 122(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
Documents
| SER documents | Type |
|---|---|
| SER – Main Report | PDF 16.0 MB |
| SER – Appendices A-E | PDF 19.8 MB |
For more information about the referral, go to the environmental impact assessment register for the GEMCO Excess Water Disposal Project.