LEADERSHIP

Traditional owners investigating BHP rockfall

THE newly formed South Flank heritage advisory council has launched an investigation with BHP and the Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation into a rockfall at a registered Banjima site within BHP’s Mining Area C.

Traditional owners investigating BHP rockfall

The heritage advisory council was formed in response to last year's Juukan Gorge disaster in which Rio Tinto blasted two 46,000-year-old rock shelters that were of cultural significance to the traditional owners, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura peoples.

Mining Area C is next to BHP's $4 billion South Flank project in Western Australia's Pilbara, which is under construction.

In a statement, BHP president, minerals Australia Edgar Basto said the rockfall was spotted during monitoring at MAC on January 29 at a site that was not part of mining operations at the moment.

He said the heritage site was first recorded in 2005 by Banjima Traditional Owners and did not contain any rock art or archaeological deposits so could not be dated.

However, the miner still has Section 18 approval to disturb the site.

"We notified the Banjima traditional owners of the rock fall, and I and Western Australia iron ore president Brandon Craig subsequently met with Banjima elders as part of the Banjima heritage advisory council and agreed to a joint investigation with the Banjima to determine the cause of the rock fall," Basto said.

"We are committed to learning from the outcomes of the joint investigation."

In a statement the BNTAC confirmed it was aware of the rockfall and would work with BHP and Banjima's newly-established heritage advisory council to find the cause of the rockfall.

Basto said the relationships the company held with traditional custodians were critically important to BHP.

"Over many years, we have built a strong relationship with the Banjima people based on deep respect for their heritage and their connection to country," he said.

"We will continue to work with the Banjima in a spirit of respect and cooperation."

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

editions

MiningNews.net Research Report 2024

Access a multi-pronged tool to identify critical risks and opportunities in Australia’s mining industry.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.