A Perth-based oil company is accusing the Northern Territory's Central Land Council of misrepresenting traditional owners.
Central Petroleum Limited says it wants to build a road into its work site near the Allitera Tableland, east of Alice Springs, but the Council told them to forget it because it involved a sacred site.
The company says when it spoke to traditional owners yesterday, they said they were in favour of the road lease agreement and said it would not disturb any sacred sites.
John Hue from Central Petroleum Limited says the Council has a legal responsibility to put the proposal to traditional owners.
"We don't really know that they have a valid objection at all," he said.
"They have just simply said that they don't want to do it because it will result in the desecration of sacred sites.
"But the traditional owners themselves have said that are no sacred sites near the road access that we are seeking."
