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Native Title Petroleum Agreement between the Northern Land Council and Sweetpea Corporation |
| Date: | 1 January 2003 | |
| Sub Category: | Future Act Agreement (Native Title Act) | Exploration Agreement (Native Title Act) |
| Place: | Newcastle Waters region |
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| State/Country: | Northern Territory, Australia |
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| Subject Matter: | Cultural Heritage | Employment and Training | Environmental Heritage | Cultural Heritage | Mining and Minerals | Recognition of Traditional Rights and Interests | Exploration | Future Act | Petroleum | Native Title |
| Summary Information: | |
| The Native Title Petroleum Agreement between the Northern Land Council (NLC) and Sweetpea Corporation (the Agreement) was signed by the United States-based Sweetpea Corporation and the NLC on behalf of 13 groups of traditional owners from language groups including Midburra, Jingili, Wampaya, Gurdanji, Mangarrayi and Yangman people. The Agreement was executed in 2003 after approximately three years of negotiations and six months of mediations facilitated by the National Native Title Tribunal for the purpose of permitting the grant of petroleum exploration licences. The Agreement allows for the grant by the Northern Territory Government of two exploration permits allowing Sweetpea Corporation to explore 14,000 square kilometres of land in the Newcastle Waters region with traditional owner consent. |
| Detailed Information: | |
The Agreement is the first of its kind to be mediated in the Northern Territory and establishes the terms of exploration and production as well as protections for sacred sites and the environment. A similar agreement has been negotiated with Pardi Pty Ltd by the NLC on behalf of the traditional owners over land adjacent to the Sweetpea site.
It is envisaged that the agreements, made under the right to negotiate provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) will function as templates for further petroleum exploration agreements relating to the sedimentary basins of the Northern Territory. In addition, the agreements are to provide employment and training opportunities for local Aboriginal people where any discoveries are commercialised. | |
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