Matilda Minerals Limited (Matilda) proposes to develop sand mining operations at Andranangoo Creek West (Andranangoo) and Lethbridge Bay West (Lethbridge), Melville Island, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory. The proposed operation will extract high grade heavy minerals (HM), specifically zircon and rutile, for export to China. It is estimated that a total of 99,000 t of zircon and rutile will be exported during the anticipated sand mining operation over three and half years. A proposal to mine both sites was submitted to the NT Government in the form of a Notive of Intent Document (URS, 2005). The NT Government determined the project is to undergo formal environmental assessment in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS). Part of the EIS process is to conduct a biting insect assessment of the general project areas to determine any public health risks to workers and the potential for mining activities to alter the natural environment and create further biting insect breeding sites. The Medical Entomology Branch was commissioned by URS Australia on behalf of Matilda Minerals to undertake a biting insect assessment at both proposed sandmining sites.

There are many examples of development in the Darwin region that have led to enormous populations of a range of mosquito species, severely effecting residents in nearby areas and requiring costly rectification. To aid planners in their design of the proposed Newton development, the Medical Entomology section of the department of Health and Families has made collections of biting midges and mosquitoes form march 1984 to April 1985 in and around the proposed development area between the Elizabeth and Blackmore Rivers, south-west of Palmerston. Additional surveys of biting midge breeding areas were made in late 1987. This report analyses the result and suggest methods of minimising the adverse effects of the biting insect present in the proposed development area, and outlines some construction guidelines to avoid exacerbating the problem.

Compass Resources NL is proposing the development of the Browns Oxide mine, located in the Northern Territory approximately 65km south of Darwin and 7km north-west of Batchelor (Figure 1).The project is currently under construction. Compass Resources NL proposes to utilise open cut mining methods and a conventional hydrometallurgical process to extract approximately 3.9 million tonnes of oxide ore and produce copper, cobalt and nickel over a four year period (Public Environmental Report (PER) - Enesar Consulting Pty Ltd 2005). Mine sites have the potential to create or exacerbate mosquito breeding, from the creation of water dams, wetland filters, borrow pits, sediment traps, pit water discharge, waste water disposal, as well as the construction of roads and mine waste dumps. Mine sites also have the potential to introduce new mosquito species into the Northern Territory, such as the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti from North Queensland, if equipment is sourced from this area. Therefore, all major development in the NT is required to consider mosquito breeding during the Environmental Assessment process, to ensure development does not create new mosquito breeding sites.

There have been many instances of construction in or near tidal areas in the Top End of the Northern Territory that have resulted in ecological disturbance and subsequent mosquito breeding. Many of the deleterious disturbances have been the result of little or no recognition of the ecological consequences of construction practices, either during the construction period or on completion of the project. Much of the deleterious ecological disturbance can be avoided or minimized by consultation between engineers or construction authorities and people with ecological expertise.

The Northern Territory Government (NTG) is responsible for maintaining quality and safeguarding requirements during the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This responsibility is upheld through the Northern Territory Quality and Safeguarding Framework (Framework), which will remain in force until 1 July 2019. Under the Safeguarding Domain of the Framework, NDIS registered providers have a responsibility to establish internal policy and procedures regarding the management and prevention of critical incidents.

Territory Iron Limited proposes to develop an open cut iron ore mining operation at Frances Creek, 180 kilometres south-east of Darwin. The proposed operation will be on the site of the previous Frances Creek Iron Ore Mine, which operated from 1967 to 1974. It will use remaining infrastructure from the previous operation. Three of five pits will be extensions of existing pits (Frances Creek Project PER, MBS Environmental August 2006). As the proposed mine site contains various water holding features such as dams and pits, as well as being located adjacent to ephemeral creek lines, there was the likelihood that pest and disease carrying mosquito species would be present at the mine site. Mining operations have the potential to create new mosquito breeding sites through the excavation of pits, construction of sediment ponds and dams, waste water disposal, construction of waste dumps, pit dewatering activities and the construction of roads. Mine operations also have the potential to introduce new mosquito species into the Northern Territory, such as the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti from North Queensland, if equipment was to be sourced from this area.

In the past malaria was endemic in the Northern Territory (NT), resulting in numerous deaths in the Aboriginal and mining communities. The last endemic case was reported in 1996, and Australia was declared malaria free in 1981. However, the Top End of the Northern Territory is still receptive to malaria. To help decrease the risk in the NT and to decrease the morbidity from malaria, a passive surveillance program has been complemented with an active screening and surveillance program for students arriving from countries with endemic malaria.

The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in conjunction with GHD Pty Ltd proposes to develop the new residential suburb of Muirhead in Darwin, located north of the existing Northern Suburbs between Buffalo Creek and Lee Point Road. Muirhead is located on Lot 9737 Town of Nightcliff. Lot 9737 was previously used as a defence facility, and around one third of Lot 9737 has been cleared of trees and shrubs. The majority of lots were proposed to be urban residential, with some rural residential lots, and land set aside for commercial and education as well as open space. Based on the proximity of the development to known mosquito and potential biting midge breeding sites, there is likely to be a number of biting insect problems in various sections of the development area.