Central Land Council
in this section
CLC Press Releases
- 14 Augyust 2008 2008
- Communities have their say on intervention ›› more
- 31 July 2008 2008
- Fairfax news in bad taste ›› more
- 24 July 2008 2008
- election: accountability needed ›› more
- 17 July 2008 2008
- Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
- 11 July 2008 2008
- Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ›› more
- 8 July 2008 2008
- Sacred site damage at Wilora ›› more
- 30 May 2008
- Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now ›› more
- 27 May 2008
- Angela Pamela Negotiations ›› more
- 9 May 2008
- Angela Pamela and the native title process ›› more
- 18 February 2008
- Coalition should support permit system ›› more
- 15 February 2008
- Politicians threaten to derail fresh start ›› more
- 22 January 2008
- Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community ›› more
- 26 November 2007
- Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs ›› more
- 21 November 2007
- Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics ›› more
EASTERN ARRERNTE SIGN FIRST MINING AGREEMENT
The Central Land Council says a mining agreement signed by Eastern Arrernte Native Title holders and Thor Mining this week shows Native Title can deliver positive outcomes for all involved.
The agreement covers Thor's Molyhil Tungsten Molybdenum project about 250 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs .
The signing on-site follows negotiations between Thor Mining and the Central Land Council on behalf of native title holders.
The agreement will bring benefits to the native title holders during construction and when mining proceeds at the site and allows the Territory Government to proceed with the granting of mining leases at Molyhil.
Thor Mining CEO John Young said the mining agreement includes a commitment by the company to provide training and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal people.
The CLC's Chairman Lindsay Bookie, who is also a senior native title holder for the area said the agreement offers a lot of potential for Aboriginal people in the area.
“It's going to be a good opportunity for us to get jobs and things like that, to work on the mine and also contracts. It's a good opportunity for us to benefit,” Mr Bookie said.
“It's the first time it's happened on the eastern side with us. It's a good thing you know what we're looking at. We're not going to just waste the money it brings us on rubbish and things, we're looking at proper stuff for people in the communities.”
The CLC is working closely with native title holders on community development projects which will be developed as a result of the agreement, to develop outstations and assist with health and education issues.
CLC director David Ross says the mining agreement is the first in the CLC region and shows the Native Title process can work well when good faith is show by all parties involved.
“The system works,” Mr Ross said. “This mining agreement follows an Indigenous Land Use Agreement between the parties that covered exploration on the site.
“The strong relationship developed during that process has allowed the mining agreement to be completed in a timely fashion now that the company want to move from exploration to mining.
“Both parties have moved forward cooperatively, and I congratulate them on reaching this milestone” Mr Ross said.
Thor Mining intends to commence construction at the site in April next year with production anticipated in early 2009.
25 October 2007