Mining giant BHP is given the green light to destroy as many as 86 Aboriginal sites dating back 15,000 years to extend $4.5BILLION mine in Western Australia
- BHP set to go ahead with expansion that could destroy 86 Indigenous sites
- Among them are Aboriginal rock shelters, stone arrangements and cave art sites
- Banjima people, the traditional owners, are unable to stop the move
Aboriginal sites dating back 15,000 years are set to be destroyed in a multi-billion-dollar mine expansion aiming to create more than 3000 new jobs.
Traditional owners in Western Australia's Pilbara region are deeply opposed to BHP's South Flank iron ore mine but are powerless to stop the move under state law.
So far Ministerial consent has been given for 40 heritage sites to be destroyed as part of the $4.5billion project.
But the miner has identified a total of 86 rock shelters, stone arrangements and cave art sites that are standing in the way of the proposed development.
The news comes just a week after Rio Tinto was forced to apologise for blasting 46,000-year-old Indigenous rock shelters with explosives in a incident they described as a 'misunderstanding'.
BHP's South Flank mine (pictured) in Western Australia's Pilbara region is one of the world's largest iron ore hubs
Banjima people are pictured at the native title ceremony where the Indigenous group signed an agreement with BHP
The Banjima people - the native title holders - are restricted from lodging legal objections or even raising concerns publicly under section 18 of the Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act.
Traditional owners signed a native title settlement with BHP in 2015, giving the resources giant the power to expand their operations.
The Banjima's archaeological advisor said they 'in no way support the continued destruction of this significant cultural landscape,' The Guardian reported.
In a document to the Western Australian government in April, they claim there will be 'impending harm' to the area resulting in 'significant cumulative loss to the cultural values of the Banjima people'.
In a 2019 report, BHP said it has taken into account the views and recommendations of the Banjima representatives but decided it was 'not reasonably practicable for BHP to avoid the 86 potential archaeological sites'.
Instead, the company wants to excavate, salvage and deconstruct archaeological sites where possible and 'digitally capture' stone arrangements.
Banjima traditional owners and brothers, Maitland and Slim Parker are pictured with BHP iron ore president Jimmy Wilson (right) and BHP's Margaret Beck (left) at the native title agreement ceremony in 2015
BHP said in an assessment report they will hire 'a suitably qualified expert to digitally capture the extent and form of each stone arrangement using DPGS drone footage, with a view of creating a three-dimensional computer model and video'.
'Any cultural material salvaged as part of these programs shall be stored in the cultural repository at the BHP Mulla Mulla Heritage Office until a different location is nominated by the Banjima people.'
Western Australian Minister for Aboriginal affairs, Ben Wyatt, gave approval for the expansion to go ahead on May 29, only three days after the shocking Rio Tinto incident in the Pilbara.
Rio Tinto was forced to apologise for destroying the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge in a 'misunderstanding' that saw Indigenous rock shelters blasted with explosives
'I have asked BHP to work with Banjima to do what it can to avoid or minimise the impact on this site, regardless of the section 18 approval,' Mr Wyatt said.
'As with any agreement, some circumstances can change including the understanding of heritage values of particular sites.
'I urge parties to such agreements to cooperate on management of those changed circumstances.'
In a statement, BHP said: 'We value the strong relationship with the Banjima people that has developed over many years, including through 10 years of consultation and scientific research at South Flank.'
'As part of our ongoing engagement, we speak regularly with the Banjima community and have reiterated our commitment to working closely with them through the lifecycle of the South Flank development to minimise impacts on cultural heritage.'
The South Flank project is expected to create about 2,500 jobs during the construction process and 600 ongoing roles when completed.
The $4.5billion project at South Flank is set to create over 3000 new jobs with iron ore mining to continue for about 25 years at the site
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