re: drilling/Indigenous Land Use Agreement
Not much point in posting before this, Freakme.
Here for your benefit, however, the company's latest Announcement, hot off the press. Another part of the story slips into place:
Indigenous Land Use Agreement
MATRIX METALS LIMITED 2002-10-28 ASX-SIGNAL-G
HOMEX - Perth
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ INDIGENOUS LAND USE AGREEMENT KALKADOON PEOPLE AND MATRIX METALS LIMITED
The Company is pleased to announce that an Indigenous Land Use Agreement ("ILUA") between Matrix Metals Limited and the Kalkadoon People has been agreed and formally executed. The Kalkadoon People are the registered native title claimants for the Mt Cuthbert area and the surrounding region.
The ILUA, which provides a process for the granting of Mining Leases in the overall Mt Cuthbert/Mt Watson region, has been confirmed by the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) as compliant with s24CA of the Native Title Act. This confirms that the formal NNTT requirements for an ILUA have been met, and hence the ILUA can now proceed to the Notification stage of the Registration process.
The signing of the ILUA facilitating the granting of Mining Leases is considered a milestone event. The ILUA covers an area encompassing the Company's total Mt Cuthbert Operation and all other tenements and areas of interest in the overall Mt Cuthbert region, including the Mt Watson area. The ILUA now provides Matrix with a process for proceeding with the development and mining of the Mt Watson deposit and the other newly identified mineralised zones in the region.
The Matrix Board believes that the overall Mt Cuthbert region, and in particular the Mt Watson area including the newly identified zones, will provide the source of ongoing oxide copper ore for Matrix's heap leach solvent extraction/electrowinning operations for many years.
The signing of the ILUA concludes almost three years of negotiations between the parties and presents the basis for the development of a long-term mutually beneficial relationship. Matrix would like to record their appreciation as to the co-operative and positive environment under which the ILUA has been negotiated and concluded.
A media release providing more details of the provisions of the ILUA is attached.
A Chapman MANAGING DIRECTOR
JOINT MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
MATRIX METALS LIMITED & THE KALKADOON PEOPLE LANDMARK INDIGENOUS LAND USE AGREEMENT MT ISA/CLONCURRY REGION IN NORTH WEST QUEENSLAND
Matrix Metals Limited and the Kalkadoon People have signed a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that provides a process for the granting of Mining Leases in the Company's total area of interest surrounding and including the Mt Cuthbert Copper Mine. Matrix's exciting new Mt Watson Deposit is contained within the ILUA area. The ILUA has been confirmed by the National Native Title Tribunal as compliant with the Native Title Act and will be formally "Notified" on 30 October 2002
The parties believe this ILUA records a landmark event in terms of such an all encompassing agreement with the native title claimants being reached. This outcome is also highly significant in terms of the existing Queensland State Legislation not currently providing a mechanism to allow Mining Leases to be granted.
The Kalkadoon People, who are the registered native title claimants in the Mt Cuthbert region of Queensland, and Matrix who is a miner and explorer in the region, have been negotiating the agreement for almost three years.
This outcome allows Matrix to have new Mining Leases within the ILUA area granted and provides the Kalkadoon People with a package of opportunities and benefits related to the grant of each lease and to the mining activities of the Company.
"Achieving the signing of the ILUA signals the start of what is planned to be a long and mutually beneficial relationship between the two parties" said Matrix's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Chapman. "The duration of the negotiations has allowed time for a solid relationship to be built with the Kalkadoon People. They are a very positive and forward looking group and it's been a great experience going through the process with them." Mr Chapman added.
The Kalkadoon People's Legal Representative, Mr Sean Sexton stated, "This Agreement is a sure sign that negotiated outcomes are preferable to litigation. The Kalkadoon and Matrix have worked hard to ensure that this Agreement has been reached, and both deserve to be congratulated".
Mr Sexton added, "Not everybody in the Mining Industry in Queensland is convinced of the benefits of negotiation - maybe this achievement will enlighten them".
"The facts are - and this is really important to understand - that if native title is impacted upon by a development proposal, then currently, the existing Mining legislation in Queensland is inoperative. The only way to have new mining leases granted over native title land is to negotiate an ILUA under the Federal legislation. This is why this Agreement is so critical to both parties and is considered such an achievement. Pursuing such an outcome via the State legislative route is simply not possible" says Mr Sexton.
"The negotiations have been complex and protracted but at all times have proceeded in a very positive spirit of co-operation and respect. On behalf of the Matrix Board of Directors, I would like to express thanks to all the Kalkadoon People involved in achieving this landmark Agreement". Mr Chapman added.
Mr Sexton added "The ILUA is structured to present both Parties with incentives to ensure the interests and objectives of both groups are respectively protected and achieved. In effect, the Agreement allows Matrix to move forward with its production and development plans, whilst offering the Kalkadoon People business and employment opportunities together with a range of community, educational and investment benefits related to the development and performance of the Mt Cuthbert mine and future developments in the overall area."
"This Agreement is the second significant ILUA for the Kalkadoon People - following the first "backlog ILUA agreement" for exploration permits achieved last year, in which claimants, and various explorers including Matrix, sat down and negotiated a grass roots solution to the problem of access to exploration tenements not granted by the Government over a period of years" concluded Mr Sexton
"Matrix recognises and willingly accepts the fact that the Kalkadoon People are an integral part of the area and hence are a part of our business, and I believe our acceptance of their rights and of our responsibilities in regard to their culture interest, has allowed us to work together in concluding this landmark ILUA. I think it is significant that this Agreement has been reached at a time when uncertainty in respect to native title prevails over much of Queensland. I think we are all proud of having achieved this agreement" concluded Mr Chapman
