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ML30156 (Balcooma) Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
Date:	13 March 2003
Sub Category:	Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) (Native Title Act)
Place:	Inland from Townsville
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State/Country:	Queensland, Australia
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	The ILUA covers the area of ML30156, which is 12.378 sq kms in size and is located approximately 190 kms south west of Atherton in north east Queensland. It is within the Etheridge Shire Council area and the Cairns & District ATSIC region.
Legal Status:	Registered with the National Native Title Tribunal
Legal Reference:	National Native Title Tribunal File No: QI2002/036
Subject Matter:	Cultural Heritage \| Mining and Minerals \| Native Title \| Future Act \| Environmental Heritage \| Employment and Training \| Land Use
Summary Information:
The ML30156 (Balcooma) Indigenous Land Use Agreement (the ILUA) between the Gugu-Badhun People of north Queensland and mining company Kagara Zinc validates the grant of Mining Lease 30156. The Gugu-Badhun consented to the grant of the lease and other 'Project Rights', being 'all approvals, authorities, consents, licences and titles required for the ML30156 or for the activities permitted under ML30156.' After 18 months of negotiations, the two groups reached the Agreement over a 1,234 hectare area approximately 235 kilometres south-west of Cairns near Greenvale. It is within an area covered by the Gugu-Badhun People's native title claim and earmarked for a Kagara Zinc mining project. The ILUA enables Kagara Zinc to proceed with the mining project while providing the native title claimants with a range of benefits and enabling them to pursue their native title aspirations. Under the Agreement, the Gugu-Badhun People will gain employment and training opportunities which will extend to the local non-Indigenous people in the upper Burdekin region. The claimants will also be offered business opportunities along with natural and cultural heritage protection management opportunities. Kagara Zinc will be able to proceed with its mining operations at Dry River south and Balcooma.