A resources company wants to expand its Northern Territory mine site even as it apologises for the distress caused to Aboriginal people.
Glencore's McArthur River Mine general manager Steven Rooney has acknowledged the lead and zinc mine continues to be a source of sadness and has had an impact on country.
Mr Rooney apologised before a federal parliamentary committee on Tuesday while being grilled about a proposed expansion that would result in the removal of ancient rock tools.
The plan was to move the artefacts from the site to a safe keeping place traditional owners were happy with.
But the territory government and the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority were yet to provide final approval for the expansion of the mine's waste rock pile.
"A keeping place is our first proposal," Mr Rooney said, adding there was another option to expand the waste rock pile in a different direction if necessary.
"We're currently working towards consent."
Glencore assumed full ownership of the mine from Xstrata in 2012. The site became open cut in 2006, when the McArthur River was diverted.
"The mine has never destroyed sacred sites but we acknowledge that historical actions like the river diversion have clearly not met the the expectations of the Aboriginal community," Mr Rooney said.
The inquiry continues.
