Barngarla community call for consultation on Eyre Peninsula port
The indigenous community has raised concerns about a potential new port on the Eyre Peninsula.
The Barngarla community on the Eyre Peninsula has raised concerns that the proposed Port Spencer development has been announced prior to proper consultation with the indigenous community.
Rural investment group Free Eyre recently announced that its plans to build a grain-export facility at Port Spencer were progressing after settling the purchase of land from Centrex Metals. But another mining company, Iron Road, is also confident that while its advanced $1.7 billion Central Eyre Iron Project will be developed, the option to build a multi-commodity deepwater port at Cape Hardy, estimated to cost up to $200 million, for grain and other exports can proceed before the larger mine development.
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation, which manages native title for the Barngarla people in the area, considers that an indigenous Land Use Agreement is necessary for the Free Eyre port development to occur.
Former chairman of the Barngarla Elliott McNamara, pictured, spent several years negotiating an indigenous land-use agreement with Iron Road.
“We’ve done a lot of work, myself and the Barngarla community, with Iron Road on the Cape Hardy project over the last few years,” he said.
“But Free Eyre doesn’t seem to have started this process for their Port Spencer proposal, which is disappointing.” Mr McNamara said there could be great opportunities for the indigenous community from port projects, including developing skills, but the process needed to be undertaken in the right way.
“We, as the Barngarla community, we’ve done a lot of work with farmers, local government and the community in the local area (on the Cape Hardy project),” he said.
“It’s very unique for Aboriginal organisations to be working with pastoralists, local government and other businesses, but we’re all trying to achieve the same outcome. We’ve looked at the opportunities and where we can go in the future.
“Iron Road came to us and built a fantastic relationship.”
Mr McNamara said the Iron Road project offered a range of benefits to the region as it could serve as an industrial hub, servicing the grain and mining sectors, as well as other industries.
The Iron Road project has an indigenous Land Use Agreement in place.
“We’ve spent years working together and holding meetings, to get to this point,” Mr McNamara said.
“It’s all about the future of locals and the opportunities that can come out of a project like this.
“It could mean our young people won’t have to leave to go and live in Adelaide.
“The benefits would then flow to local stores and shops.”
Free Eyre chief executive Mark Rodda said the company would be undertaking a community consultation process on the Port Spencer project.
“We want to make sure the community is on side,” he said.