Kimberley Traditional Owners refuse to be Australia’s guinea pig

Traditional Owners will meet at Yurmulun Community (Pandanus Park) on Thursday 17th July to discuss Mitsubishi-Buru’s controversial plans to frack for shale and tight gas in the Kimberley without an EPA assessment.

Despite State Government approval for Mitsubishi-Buru’s 2014 pilot fracking program, Nyikina Mangala Traditional Owners are concerned over the lack of environmental monitoring.

“We need to ensure environmental checks and balances are in place right from the start,” says Nyikina Mangala Traditional Owner and PBC Director Anthony Watson. “While Mitsubishi-Buru might be adhering to government standards, experience has taught us that often government isn’t at sufficient arm’s length from business to make a proper decision.”

“Fracking opponents in the United States talk of irrevocable damage to river systems and water supplies. We need to be absolutely confident Mitsubishi-Buru has the capability to undertake this safely,” Mr. Watson says.

The meeting comes only weeks after the Yungngora Community at Noonkanbah Station publically backed Mitsubishi-Buru’s plans to frack for gas at their Asgard well in the second half of this year.

Nyikina Mangala PBC Chairperson Wayne Bergmann is not surprised by the community’s position.

“When people are desperate for economic stimulation, it’s not surprising they hope fracking can be done safely. But we don’t want to be Australia’s guinea pig.”

“Until Nyikina Mangala have had the chance to hear from and consider the advice of independent experts on Mitsubishi-Buru’s frack plans, we cannot make an informed decision about what happens on our country,” Mr Bergmann says.

Invitees to the bush meeting include Yawuru Traditional Owners, members of the Ambooriny Burru Foundation (represented by KRED Enterprises) and any other Kimberley Traditional Owners concerned they may be impacted by the effects of fracking.

“This meeting is about getting organised to protect the things that are important to us,” Mr Bergmann says.

Traditional Owner meeting to discuss fracking

Wayne Bergmann appointed to Northern Australia Advisory Group

As you’re no doubt aware, the Australian Government has a vision for opening northern Australia to development. Wayne Bergmann, CEO of KRED Enterprises, has been appointed as a member on the Northern Australia Advisory Group. Here’s some of his thoughts on the prestigious position:

“It’s important for northern Australia to build on its strengths and natural values, while also increasing the opportunity to bring in services that currently don’t exist. I’m hoping to bring a perspective to the role shaped by being the chair of the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance.”

The White Paper on Developing Northern Australia is due to be released later in the year and we’ll keep you posted with updates. Make sure you also  ‘Like’ us on Facebook because this is where we share our big stories first! https://www.facebook.com/KREDEnterprises

Minister Lauds our Leader

In Perth on Friday, the WA Minister for Water Mia Davies praised Wayne Bergmann’s Aboriginal pastoral vision and offered her full support. The Minister delivered the speech at the CEDA event ‘National Agriculture Series Leadership in agriculture: Seizing the Opportunity.’ Here’s an excerpt:

‘Wayne Bergmann and his team … are setting up a framework for mosaic irrigation along the Fitzroy River to help Aboriginal stations lift their combined herd from its current 25,000 head, to 100,000. While beef is a primary target, they are also interested in land tenure changes that broaden the economic base of their stations and allow the creation of irrigation precincts for high value food crops for export.’

‘Half of all Kimberley Pastoral Stations are now in Aboriginal hands, with many of them strategically placed along the Fitzroy River and its tributaries. There is an opportunity of a lifetime to engage with Aboriginal pastoralists, traditional owners and Indigenous leaders like Wayne to negotiate partnerships and pathways to lift productivity in the Kimberley,’ the Minister said.

Pictured above – there’s not only cattle on our Kimberley stations but also herds of haughty camels. For more photos of the pastoral project check out our Instagram account: http://instagram.com/kredenterprises

Traditional Owners Negotiate a Successful Agreement

KRED Enterprises and the Jaru native title claim group have successfully negotiated an agreement with Northern Minerals, locking in substantial economic benefits for the Jaru people of the East Kimberley, should the Northern Minerals project to mine rare earth progress.

The Browns Range Project Co-existence Agreement was put before the Jaru native title claim group at a two-day meeting (10 and 11 June 2014) attended by close to 200 people at Ringer Soak.

Jaru people consent to grant a mining lease to the company in exchange for a comprehensive benefits package and ongoing participation in the operation of the mine. The package includes financial benefits, share options and support to Ringer Soak and Jaru to sustain Jaru heritage, law and culture.

Northern Minerals have also committed to implement best environmental practice at all levels of operations, to carry out a full social and cultural impact assessment in conjunction with KRED and Jaru and to prioritise employment and contracting opportunities for Jaru people that will increase over the life of the mine.

KRED’s CEO Wayne Bergmann says it’s a strong agreement and a major achievement for the Jaru people.

“Here in the Kimberley, we’re setting national benchmarks with our agreements between Traditional Owners and mining companies. We’re confident this particular agreement protects the Jaru people’s cultural heritage and environment as best it can within Australian law. If the project is progressed as planned then it has the potential to provide many positive economic and social benefits to the Jaru people and the wider community,” Mr Bergmann says.

Jaru named applicant and signatory to the agreement Bonnie Edwards, says, “I’m confident we’ve got the best agreement we could have. KRED has worked hard to represent the Jaru people and I’m hoping as the benefits flow in, this will mean a higher standard of living and more opportunities for Jaru people.”

Consistent with the cultural values and responsibilities of KRED’s membership to look after each other, the agreement also has a provision for a portion of the benefits to be contributed to KRED’s regional fund, which is used to support and enhance all its members across the Kimberley, including Jaru.

Whilst the signing of the Browns Range Project Co-existence Agreement signals an important step in the strengthening of the relationship between Jaru and Northern Minerals, the full benefits for Jaru people are dependent on Northern Minerals securing investors for the project and confirming the mine will proceed. If they’re successful in doing this over the next six months, construction of the mine will begin in 2015.