Working together to keep Groote Eylandt cane toad free

We have formed a partnership with the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) and the ALC Land and Sea Rangers of Groote Eylandt to help protect the local environment from biosecurity risks. Groote Eylandt, an island approximately 50 kilometres from the Northern Territory (NT) coastline in Australia, is home to our Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO). The island has a unique environment and is recognised nationally and internationally for its outstanding ecological and conservation values.

Groote Eylandt is free from many of the threatening species found on the NT mainland, including cane toads, which have caused widespread ecological devastation on mainland Australia. Cane toad incursion and establishment on Groote Eylandt is considered a significant threat to the environment. We continue to improve existing risk management processes to mitigate the risk of cane toad presence on Groote Eylandt from both a business and community perspective.

In partnership with the ALC, we have funded a Quarantine and Biosecurity Officer who manages a professionally trained sniffer dog, Edna. Edna inspects high-risk freight, vehicles and materials entering Groote Eylandt for both GEMCO operations and community freight delivery and sea transport services. GEMCO is committed to assisting in the management of biosecurity and quarantine on Groote Eylandt and undertakes a work program which includes manual load inspection, barrier controls and education and awareness campaigns.