Aboriginal people and Ranger

Located 260 kilometres east of Darwin, the Ranger Project Area (RPA) and the nearby Jabiluka Mineral Lease (MNL1) are situated on Aboriginal land of which the Mirarr Gundjeihmi clan are the Traditional Owners.

The conditions for using this land (RPA and MNL1) are laid down in various Agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia, ERA and the representative body of Aboriginal people, the Northern Land Council, and the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, representing the Mirarr Traditional Owners.

The coexistence of ERA and the Aboriginal owners of the Ranger land began, in effect, in 1978 when an agreement was negotiated of terms on which mining could proceed.

The Agreement, signed between the Federal Government and the Northern Land Council, established ERA’s formal relationship with the Aboriginal owners, as well as the conditions under which the mine must operate.

The main requirements 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.
• Liaison. A liaison committee, consisting of Aboriginal representatives and Company employees, to ensure that the rights of Aboriginal people affected by the mine’s operations are protected.

Additionally, ERA recognises that local community outcomes should be driven by Aboriginal people themselves, and that ERA, along with other regional stakeholders, can support and augment these outcomes where required.

To help the Aboriginal community better understand the activities of the company, ERA's Community Relations office is situated in the town of Jabiru. Aboriginal Liaison Officers are available to members of the community at any time.