An expert report by archeologists working for Fortescue Metals and the Yindjibarndi people found that more than a hundred heritage sites have been destroyed in Western Australia despite being protected under the State Aboriginal Heritage Act, reported the Australian Associated Press.
The joint report was produced by Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation’s archaeologists Peter Veth and Caroline Bird, and Fortescue’s expert Douglas Williams. The trio agreed that a more detailed investigation could have been done to mitigate the loss of some sites, and that Fortescue might have been able to exploit weaknesses in the WA government’s administration of Aboriginal heritage.
The AAP said the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation is suing Fortescue and the WA government for mining at the former’s Solomon Hub since 2013 without consent. About 75% of the mine’s 400-square-kilometre footprint extends across the Yindjibarndi native title determination area.
Fortescue said it was committed to seeing the court case settled so all the Yindjibarndi people could benefit. “Fortescue has offered compensation to the Yindjibarndi people in the past and we continue to be ready to settle this by paying compensation,” a spokeswoman said. “Fortescue pays financial compensation as part of all seven of our native title agreements.”
Solomon is located on Eastern Guruma and Yindjibarndi Country in the Hamersley Ranges, 60 km north of Tom Price and 120 km west of Fortescue’s Chichester Hub.
Source: Australian Associated Press