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Frances Creek Iron Ore Project Mining Agreement

Date: March 2007
Sub Category:Mining Agreement (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act)
Place:Frances Creek
State/Country:Northern Territory, Australia
The area covered by this agreement relates to 13 mining tenements that are spread over 430 hectares of land, and that together make up the Frances Creek Iron Ore Project. This project is located approximately 28 kilometres north of Pine Creek and 190 kilometres south of Darwin in the Northern Territory. More specifically, the mining interests covered by this agreement are mineral leases 24727, 25087, 25088, 25152 and 25396.
Subject Matter:Employment and Training | Mining and Minerals
Summary Information:
This agreement, which will henceforth be referred to as the Frances Creek Iron Ore Project Mining Agreement, was agreed between Territory Iron Ltd and traditional land owners in relation to the Frances Creek iron ore project in March 2007. The agreement was negotiated with the assistance of the Northern Land Council under s 46 of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth).

The purpose of the Frances Creek Iron Ore Project Mining Agreement is to provide for the grant of mineral leases to Territory Iron for the purposes of the Frances Creek mine. The agreement also provides a royalty, as well as training and mentoring assistance, to indigenous people who wish to secure employment at Territory Iron's mining operations.
Detailed Information:
The Frances Creek iron ore project

The Frances Creek iron ore project consists of the reopening of the old Frances Creek mine, which was closed for 33 years due to damage caused by Cyclone Tracy (ABC News, 2007). Since the reopening of the mine, its reserves increased to 4.81 million tonnes by March 2007.

The agreement

Pursuant to this agreement, the abovementioned mining leases will be granted to Territory Iron for the purposes of the Frances Creek iron ore project.

Furthermore, the traditional owners of the land on which the Frances Creek iron ore project is situated will be entitled to a royalty, as well as training and mentoring for indigenous people who wish to seek employment at the mine. According to Northern Land Council spokesman Norman Fry, the Frances Creek Iron Ore Project Mining Agreement will thus 'help to give Aboriginal territorians the ability to enter into the mainstream economy' (ABC News, 2007).
Outcomes:
As at December 2007, the Frances Creek iron ore project had already provided 12 jobs for indigenous people (Land Rights News, No. 14, 2007).

Related Entries

Organisation
  • Northern Land Council
  • Territory Resources Ltd - Signatory
  • Legislation
  • Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth)

  • Glossary

    Mining Agreement (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth)) (Australia) | Lease

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