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Jabiluka
Jabiluka Agreement
(Joint Media Statement)
The Mirarr Gundjeihmi Aboriginal people, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and the Northern Land Council (NLC) announced on the 25 February 2005, they had signed a landmark agreement on the long-term management of the Jabiluka lease area in the Northern Territory.
While the Jabiluka Mineral Lease and the 1982 Jabiluka Mining Agreement remain in force, the Jabiluka Long-Term Care and Maintenance Agreement obliges ERA (and its successors) to secure Mirarr consent prior to any future mining development of uranium deposits at Jabiluka. The agreement also waives some of ERA’s financial obligations flowing from construction of the mine decline in 1998.
Mirarr Senior Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula, ERA Chief Executive Harry Kenyon-Slaney and NLC Chief Executive Norman Fry signed the agreement following nearly three years of negotiation over the future management of the lease, which is surrounded by Kakadu National Park, but separate from it.
All parties welcomed the agreement as a major step forward in relations between Traditional Owners and ERA, who in the past have remained in conflict over Jabiluka.
In welcoming the agreement, Ms Margarula said: “I am pleased that the mining company has listened to the Mirarr people, showing us the respect we deserve as Traditional Owners. This agreement lifts the shadow of Jabiluka off the Mirarr and other Aboriginal people in Kakadu. We now have a chance to solve some of the social problems like alcohol, unemployment and health. Jabiluka will never be mined unless the Mirarr give approval - in future the decision is ours alone for the first time.”
Mr Kenyon-Slaney, said the agreement heralded a new era of cooperation. “The company would like to develop Jabiluka, one of the world’s most significant uranium deposits. Under this agreement development would only go ahead with the support of the Traditional Owners and we can now work together to try to find a way forward that meets the expectations of all parties.”
Norman Fry, Chief Executive of the NLC also welcomed the agreement. “The agreement will promote a cooperative and constructive relationship between the Mirrar and ERA regarding future developments.”
The backfilling of the 1.2 kilometre decline at Jabiluka was completed in late 2003, in the lead-up to this agreement, with mineralised and non-mineralised rock returned to the underground workings.