Native title granted at NT salt mine site

News / Event start date

Native title will be awarded to Aboriginals from several Central Australian communities around Maryvale cattle station where a salt mine is planned.

Native title will be granted to several Central Australian Aboriginal groups in an area where there are plans to build a massive salt mine and waste storage site.

Members of the Imarnte, Titjikala and Idracowra groups will be awarded native title over a 3,244 sq km area by Federal Court Justice Natalie Charlesworth at a special sitting of the Federal Court at the Maryvale cattle station on Wednesday.

The native title holders will have recognition of their right to hunt and gather on the station, protection of sacred sites and cultural activities and ceremonies but they cannot veto private company Tellus' mine plans.

"This determination will also give them the right to negotiate about exploration and mining activities on their land, for example the salt mine and hazardous waste storage facility in the determination area," the Central Land Council's manager of native title Francine McCarthy said.