Mining giant Rio Tinto accused of abandoning NT town of Nhulunbuy to an uncertain future

Production at Rio Tinto's bauxite mine outside of Nhulunbuy, in the remote Northern Territory, will come to a halt in 2029.

An exodus of businesses from the town has been led by Woolworths, which ...

news iview listen Loading ABC News News Home Mining giant Rio Tinto accused of abandoning NT town of Nhulunbuy to an uncertain future Share Share article Mining giant Rio Tinto accused of abandoning NT town of Nhulunbuy to an uncertain future By Oliver Chaseling Nhulunbuy residents have accused mining giant Rio Tinto of contributing "nothing" to post-mining transition plans.

( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Production at Rio Tinto's bauxite mine outside of Nhulunbuy, in the remote Northern Territory, will come to a halt in 2029.

An exodus of businesses from the town has been led by Woolworths, which expects to close the region's only supermarket next year.

Formal planning for Nhulunbuy's transition away from mining has been underway since 2019, but locals are calling for more information and leadership around the town's long-term economic future.

Link copied Share Share article With manicured lawns, flashy four-wheel drives and decked-out fishing boats in every other driveway, the town of Nhulunbuy has prospered from the mining industry for decades.

The town, perched atop the Northern Territory's Gove Peninsula, has been clinging on since Rio Tinto closed its alumina refinery in 2014, which saw the loss of more than 1,000 jobs .

But in 2029, the town's biggest employer will also cease production of bauxite at the mine that has generated billions in mining profits and thousands of jobs since the 1970s.

The town of Nhulunbuy in north-east Arnhem Land has a population of about 3,200 people.

( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) The land, south of Nhulunbuy, will then be handed back to Yolŋu traditional owners, the Gumatj and Rirratjiŋu clans.

The traditional owners have invested in local businesses and housing developments in preparation for the end of royalty payments from the mine .