Country, Culture, People, Future

Kuruma Marthudunera

Pilbara groups reach agreement with Rio Tinto

Posted: June 2nd, 2011

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Centre: Neil Finlay, Kuruma Marthudunera elder,
and family at agreement signing.

Four Pilbara native title claim groups have announced they have signed Australia’s most comprehensive native title agreements with Rio Tinto.

The agreements are a result of seven years of extensive negotiations between the four groups, represented by Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), and the Rio Tinto Iron Ore group.

The final agreements give Rio Tinto certainty for its existing and future operations in the areas covered by the four native title claim groups;

• Nyiyaparli
• Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura
• Kuruma and Marthudunera
• Ngarlawangga (northern part of claim area).

The total area involved in the agreement is about 70,000 square kilometres and includes existing mining operations at Brockman 4, Mesa A, Mesa J, Hope Downs, as well as any future Rio Tinto mines and operations in the native title claim areas.

Under the agreement, the four native title claim groups have negotiated a range of economic and non-economic benefits. These include an income stream from mining on their lands, training and job opportunities, access to contracts for services for Rio Tinto and support for environmental and heritage activities. The agreement also includes mining exclusion zones that recognise the importance of significant sites such as burial and ceremonial sites, as well as important water holes and ecologically sensitive areas.

YMAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Simon Hawkins, said the four Aboriginal groups had worked tirelessly to reach agreement with Rio Tinto.

“The signing of these agreements is recognition of the professional way in which the parties have been able to work together to get the best outcomes,” he said.

“Through the negotiations, the native title groups now have an established relationship with Rio Tinto that they can build on for their future.

“The real work starts now to implement the agreements and ensure the native title claim groups benefit from their commitment,” he said.

Mr Hawkins said rigorous corporate governance and benefit management structures were being put in place to underpin the implementation of the agreements. This includes the establishment of four local Aboriginal corporations to manage the agreements for each group and a broader regional corporation to implement seven regional standards relating to Rio’s operations.

Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAS) will be signed later this year between the four native title groups, Rio Tinto and the state government, with on-country celebrations planned for later in the year.

Kuruma Marthudunera sign pipeline deal

Posted: June 24th, 2010

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The Kuruma Marthudunera (KM) people are this week celebrating the conclusion of negotiations with Chevron Australia for the future construction of a domestic gas pipeline from Barrow Island through the KM’s native title claim area.

KM country covers approximately 15,759 square kilometres of land in the west Pilbara region and comprises part of the Fortescue River and the complete river system of the Robe River, in the most westerly part of the Hamersley Range.

The project involves the construction of a single gas pipeline to connect a processing plant on Barrow Island with the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The purpose of the pipeline is to supply a portion of the output from the gas project to domestic gas users in Perth and elsewhere.

On behalf of the Gorgon Venture Joint Participants, Chevron has been negotiating with KM since mid 2009 to secure their support for the construction of the pipeline. The agreement provides for the payment of compensation to the KM people for the impact on their native title rights and interests and upholds their continued rights to access the area under their traditional laws and customs.

“When we were surveying our country with the company we came across several important sites in the designated construction area. After talking with Chevron the result is that the company will build the pipeline around these areas and not destroy these sites. This type of good working relationship between ourselves and the company will help us to continue to preserve our heritage for future generations.” said KM representative, Cyril Lockyer.

Neil Finaly, KM community member, Colin Beckett, General Manager Greater Gorgon and Cyril Lockyer, kM community member.

Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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