no, the CoA did not state that Customary Landowners get to pick...

no, the CoA did not state that Customary Landowners get to pick who mines their land, that goes without saying (or putting my lawyer hat on, that is fact is 'ipso facto'). The CoA decision merely corrected the customary land recording and registration of ownership to ensure certainty of title. This is the only way towards development of the land. The fact that AVQ have applied for the PL implies that they have now got the owners of the land on side (their consent) and have requested permission to prospect their land via a JV with land owners. To explain this with an example we can all relate to, it's akin to a developer putting in an application to Council to develop your property. Even though they don't own it yet (they may have secured your property via an option agreement or exchanged without settlement, or a JV Deed), they can only submit their application with Council if they have the land owner's consent