A chaotic situation is looming with development project approvals and protection of Aboriginal heritage in the north-east Goldfields, unless the Premier intervenes to ensure commonsense and consistency amongst Government agencies.  

“The Wongatha judgement has left a gaping hole in heritage protection and the hole needs patching, quickly. If it isn’t, the mining sector, government and Aboriginal people will all be burdened with unnecessary delays and higher costs,” said Executive Director Brian Wyatt.  

“The highly successful Regional Heritage Protection Agreement regime, struck between the State and the GLSC in 2001, must be continued if a semblance of order is to remain.”  

The GLSC has written to Premier Alan Carpenter urging that heritage protection be made a condition for new post-judgement tenements. The letter also expressed concern about inconsistent activities of the Office of Native Title (ONT), Department of Industry and Resources (DOIR) and Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI).  

“On one hand ONT and DOIR are deep in negotiations with us for establishing the orderly processing of new claims and a viable process for heritage protection in the Wongatha area. On the other hand, DOIR wants early granting of tenements before heritage matters are resolved.

“On the basis of the Wongatha judgement, DPI has abandoned negotiations with former native title claimants over joint management of Lake Ballard reserve, an action that will further fuel people’s anxieties about heritage protection.  

“We are seriously concerned to be getting confusing and sometimes contradictory messages from Government. A firm political hand is required to ensure consistency and commonsense prevail. 

“Our discussions with ONT and other agencies were giving us a clear message that Government does not want myriad, ill-considered and overlapping claims to be lodged, and yet DOIR’s intention to grant tenements without heritage caveats will result in just that! Without a sensible heritage protection system, lodgement of new claims is one of the few remaining options traditional land owners have for securing protection of sites.  

“The relationship between all parties prior to the Wongatha decision was clearly working, with thousands of heritage agreements having been struck between traditional land owners and mining and exploration companies.  

“Similarly, productive negotiation processes between traditional land owners and Government agencies have also been established. The GLSC is most concerned at the way these are now being destabilised,” Mr Wyatt said.

Media Contact:  Brian Wyatt 0417 970413;    David Berry 0417 963089, 9263 8715