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Ben Wyatt sides with Sheffield in native title dispute over $348m Thunderbird mine

Stuart McKinnonThe West Australian
Wednesday, 23 May 2018 7:21AM
Stuart McKinnon

Ben Wyatt is still hopeful of a successful outcome for both parties.Picture: James Carmody

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt has thrown his weight behind plans for a $348 million mineral sands mine in the Kimberley despite a dispute between the proponent and traditional owners.
Sheffield Resources’ Thunderbird project between Broome and Derby is expected to generate 220 jobs in construction and as many as 280 local jobs in production over a 42-year minelife.
The company has also committed to an Aboriginal employment rate of 40 per cent by year eight of the mine’s operation.


Thunderbird is expected to deliver $700 million in State royalties and payroll tax over its life.
But plans for the mine have been hampered by a dispute over whether Sheffield had negotiated in good faith to strike a native title agreement with the local Mt Jowlaenga group.
The National Native Title Tribunal reserved its decision after a hearing on Friday, after the dispute was referred back to it following two Federal Court appeals.
Mr Wyatt said he had tried to broker a deal between the groups but noted that Sheffield had “gone to great lengths” to engage with traditional owners and he believed the project had enormous community support.
“In light of the direct and indirect benefits this project will bring to traditional owners and the Kimberley region, nobody will benefit from negotiations failing and this important project not proceeding,” he said.
Mr Wyatt said while traditional owners were entitled to exercise their legal rights, he was hopeful of a successful outcome for both parties.
Sheffield could be forced back to the negotiating table with the Mt Jowlaenga group before it can apply for a mining licence if it is found not to have acted in good faith to secure an agreement.