Traditional Owners

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) recognises the status of the Mirarr people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Ranger Project Area and Jabiluka Mineral Lease are located.

ERA engages with the Mirarr Traditional Owners through the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) on a range of issues of mutual interest including environmental management, cultural heritage and community development.

ERA works with the Mirarr as well as the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments and other stakeholders to seek to ensure a certain, prosperous and viable future for Jabiru as an important regional centre. 

The conditions for using this land are laid down in various agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia, ERA and the representative body of Aboriginal people, the Northern Land Council (NLC), and the GAC, representing the Mirarr Traditional Owners.

ERA makes royalty payments to the Commonwealth Government of 4.25 per cent of net sales revenue. The Commonwealth Government distributes this money to Northern Territory based Aboriginal groups, including the Mirarr Traditional Owners. In addition, annual land rental of $200,000 is paid to the Mirarr Tradtional Owners. An additional 1.25 per cent of net sales revenue is paid to the Commonwealth and distributed to the Northern Territory Government. In 2010, ERA's royalty expenses totalled $26 million (2009: $42 million).

In addition, these agreements also provide for:

• Protection of the environment, the health of local people and sacred sites while promoting knowledge and understanding of, and respect for the traditions, language and culture of the Aboriginal people
• Rehabilitation of land disturbed at Ranger
• Aboriginal involvement. As many local Aboriginal people as possible are to be offered employment and training at Ranger while opportunities are to be provided for Aboriginal people to supply goods and services to the mine. Educating all Ranger employees about Aboriginal culture
• Compensating the Aboriginal owners for the loss of the use of the Ranger area through the payment of royalties.