Minister Approves Land Clearing Without Environmental Review

In a controversial decision, Australia's environment minister has permitted the clearing of approximately 2,723 hectares of tropical savanna in the Northern Territory's Daly River region. This significant land development by Top End Pastoral Company, intended for crops like sorghum and cotton, will proceed without a mandatory environmental assessment under national nature laws. Environmental organizations and experts have voiced strong objections, highlighting that the affected area is critical habitat for at least 13 threatened species.

The decision has sparked criticism, with groups like the Environment Centre of the NT (ECNT) stating it "effectively green lights the destruction of likely habitat" for species including Gouldian finches, freshwater sawfish, pig-nosed turtles, red goshawks, and ghost bats. The ECNT executive director expressed dismay, questioning what scale of land clearing would trigger federal assessment if this project does not, and indicated legal avenues are being explored.

The government maintains that after careful review, the minister deemed the project unlikely to have a significant environmental impact. The development plans were refined to avoid some wildlife corridors and habitat. Claravale Station, the site of the clearing, contains known roosting sites for ghost bats, though these are stated to be outside the direct development zone. However, concerns remain about the impact on foraging habitats and proximity to these roosts.