NT’s water controller has rejected a mining company's application to pump 3,300 megalitres a year from the Roper River. 

Australian Ilmenite Resources has approval to pull 1,649ML a year from the Roper River since 2012, but sought to double the size of its licence to allow for expansion plans.

Northern Territory water controller Jo Townsend has extended the company's original licence for another four years, but knocked back the application for an extra 1,651ML a year.

“What I've decided to do is grant half the water that it applied for in line with their existing use ... but the remaining water they're seeking won't be considered until it's been referred to the NT Environment Protection Authority,” she said.

“The large expansion of the mine would see a different level of water use and needs to be considered under the Environment Protection Act and the company has agreed to make a referral to do that.”

Additionally, the original 1,649ML water allocation could be placed under new conditions and  to ensure minimum flow rates in the Roper River.

It is only since significant changes to the NT's Water Act in 2018 that mining companies have been  required approval from the NT's water controller at all.