Friday, May 6, 2011

Traditional owners approve gas hub

Agreement was reached on May 6th 2011 between the State Government, Woodside Energy Ltd and the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr (GJJ) native title claim group for the gas hub at Prices Point.
The Traditional Owners have agreed to relinquish their native title interests in the 3,500ha of land (35 SQUARE KILOMETRES) and water required for the precinct in return for substantial benefits for indigenous people and continuing engagement in environmental and cultural heritage management at the precinct.

The agreement came after 4 years of negotiation.

When the precinct is no longer required the land will be remediated and returned to traditional owners as freehold.

The benefits are valued at more than $1.5billion over 30 years of the Woodside project and include:
· funds to establish businesses and investment
· funds for
joint ventures (Indigenous Rangers program and cultural awareness training.) Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011 page 7.
· funds for the building of homes for GJJ and other indigenous people· funds for education initiatives (literacy and work related programs - Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011.
·
land for housing and businesses· funds to support initiatives to address the social impacts of the precinct· direct employment through the construction and operation of the precinct ("300 Indigenous jobs during construction" Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011 page 7 and minimum 15% of the work force will be Indigenous when it is operational (Broome Advertiser Nov 10, 2011 page 7)
· indirect employments through businesses maintaining and servicing the precinct
· State Government (Port Authority and LandCorp) and proponent
training programs· State Government (Port Authority and LandCorp) and proponent employment obligations and targets
· contract and tendering opportunities for GJJ buisn
esses· funds to enable traditional owners of the Kimberley to support, promote and protect Aboriginal culture and heritage· reform of indigenous land tenure on the Dampier Peninsula to allow for home ownership and create economic development opportunities· funds for the creation and joint management of conservation areas with the State Government (DEC).

"Benefits would be extended to Aboriginal people of the Dampier Peninsula and the wider Kimberley - delivering an unprecedented level of economic independence" Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011 page 4