| The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people filed an application for a determination of native title in October 2001 (Federal Court WAD6007/01). That application was registered on the Native Title Register and is currently in mediation.
The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura agreement covers some 36,684 square kilometres of land in the east Pilbara region and includes the mining town of Newman. The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura community has approximately 300 members.
The agreement provides for continuing mining operations at Brickman 4, Mesa A, Mesa J, Hope Downs as well as any mines that Rio Tinto Iron Ore might establish in the future.
For their part, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura Native Title Claim Group has negotiated a range of economic and non-economic benefits, including an income stream from mining on their lands, training and job opportunities, access to contracts for services for Rio Tinto and support for environmental and heritage activities (Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation).
The agreements also include mine exclusion zones for the protection of significant sites, as well as water holes and ecologically sensitive areas.
A local Aboriginal corporation has been established to manage the agreement, and a broader regional corporation has also been established to advance the interests of the traditional owners in the Pilbara.
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