McArthur River Mine and traditional owners sign landmark Cooperation Agreement

Borroloola region traditional owners have hailed a new era of trust with McArthur River Mine. Read why.

McArthur River Mine is located 970km from Darwin in The Gulf of Carpentaria, and is developing one of the world’s largest zinc and lead deposits.

Borroloola region traditional owners have hailed a new era of trust with McArthur River Mine with the signing of a landmark Cooperation Agreement.

The agreement, signed by the Gudanji Yanyuwa Garrwa Marra (GYGM) Aboriginal Corporation, provides traditional owners from the four language groups of the Borroloola region, with the means to access expert advice and support as they enter negotiations with MRM for an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA).

To date there has been no Indigenous Land Use Agreement in place for the mining operation, which has been operating for 30 years.

MRM has agreed to provide financial support to GYGM so traditional owners may access independent technical advice on a wide range of issues of vital interest to MRM and GYGM, including sacred site and heritage issues, environmental management, mine closure and native title issues.

Gudanji Yanyuwa Garrwa Marra Director Asman Rory welcomed the signing saying the agreement sets a new relationship between Borroloola region traditional owners and McArthur River Mine.

McArthur River mine SUPPLIED

“We are working in collaboration and building a new era of trust. We need this to address the past, the present and the future,” he said.

“Having access to advice and funding locally will help Gudanji Yanyuwa Garrwa Marra to be a strong voice for all traditional owners in the Borroloola region who are looking after country.

“We’ve been working on this for quite some time, to establish something ourselves based in Borroloola that can benefit our community.”

GYGM Director Stephen Anderson also acknowledged the signing of the agreement marked a significant change in the relationship between traditional owners and MRM.

“We’ve had a long journey and some big challenges along the way but we’re now in the position we’re working together.”

McArthur River Mine General Manager Mark Furlotte said MRM was committed to working towards a formal Indigenous Land Use Agreement with traditional owners through GYGM.

“This is a very important milestone in establishing a relationship where we can work together into the future,” Mr Furlotte said.

“We will continue to work positively through GYGM, knowing that traditional owners are being supported by independent expert advice and support.”

Mr Furlotte said while an Indigenous Land Use Agreement was important to MRM, other priorities include a mechanism to jointly manage cultural heritage on the mine site and ensuring the benefits of mining are shared with traditional owners.