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NATIVE TITLE
In accordance with the
Native Title Act 1993
, various lands
are subject to native title claims and determinations.
IGO operates in accordance with the law and in close
collaboration with our stakeholders, some of whom are
Traditional Owners. The following outlines the status of
claims as they affect IGO operations.
NOVA PROJECT
As part of the Nova Project’s development, Sirius sought
to secure a land access agreement over the mining
and related tenements with the Traditional Owners,
the Ngadju people. No determination had been made
and Sirius and the Ngadju people entered into the
Ngadju Mining Agreement. This agreement contains an
acknowledgment that the Ngadju are the Traditional
Owners of their claim area and have a legitimate
interest. It also sets forth a range of benefits that
Sirius, and subsequently IGO, will provide to Ngadju in
return for which the Ngadju granted various consents
to enable approval of the mine. Subsequent to signing
this agreement, In November 2014, the Federal Court of
Australia handed down a determination that native title
exists over an area that includes the Nova Project.
LONG OPERATION
The Long Operation is also subject to a native title claim
by the Ngadju people. Proceedings were brought in the
Federal Court of Australia by the Ngadju in relation to a
parcel of land containing a number of mining tenements
adjacent to the three tenements held by the Long
Operation. The Federal Court found that the re-granting
of these tenements did not comply with the right to
negotiate process prescribed under the
Native Title Act
1993
and as such, those affected tenements are deemed
invalid in so far as they are inconsistent with the Ngadju
people’s native title rights. The matter is currently on
appeal to the Full Bench of the Federal Court and the
decision has been reserved. The final outcome of this
decision, may or may not impact or delay IGO’s planned
exploration, development or production activities at Long.
However it will not affect the main decline (i.e. the mine
access tunnel) at Long, which is located on freehold land.
The Company will continue to monitor the matter.
TROPICANA JV
The Tropicana JV is wholly within the area of the former
Wongatha Native Title Claim (WC99/001). This claim was
dismissed by the Federal Court in 2007. Notwithstanding
this, the JV continues to work constructively with the
traditional owners.
JAGUAR OPERATION
At present there are no registered native title claims over
the tenure on which the Jaguar Operation is located.
However, various parties have a connection with that
country including the Koara, Ngalia, Wutha, and Wongatha
peoples.
HERITAGE PROTECTION
At each of our operating mines, our projects and our
various exploration sites, sites of historical or heritage
significance have been identified. Notwithstanding this
work, over time new sites may be identified. IGO has clear
protocols around land disturbance and acts in accordance
with the law. As required, IGO seeks to engage Traditional
Owners to ensure the effective and culturally sensitive
management of significant sites.
In FY2015 no significant sites were disturbed accidentally
or otherwise.