OZ Minerals Limited : OZ Minerals and the Kokatha Uwankara Claimant Group work together to progress the Carrapateena project
03/27/2013| 05:29am US/Eastern
A certificate signing ceremony was held today in Port Augusta to acknowledge the native title agreement between OZ Minerals and the Kokatha Uwankara people, covering OZ Minerals' retention lease activities at the Carrapateena project.
"This is a positive step towards creating long-term benefits for our community," says Andrew Starkey, Chairman for the Kokatha.
"The signing of today's agreement demonstrates the positive way we are working with mining companies to secure a strong future for the Kokatha."
"It builds on the work we have done to establish the Kokatha Business Centre in Port Augusta, which is creating employment, training and economic opportunities for our people, the recent appointment of a General Manager and ongoing work of our Business Development Officer.
The Kokatha Uwankara people are the native title claimants of the land on which the Carrapateena advanced exploration project is situated.
"The achievement of the native title agreement is a great example of traditional owners and mining companies working together in pursuit of common goals," says Terry Burgess, OZ Minerals Managing Director and CEO, "We look forward to continuing to work with the Kokatha Uwankara people as the Carrapateena project progresses."
As part of the agreement, OZ Minerals in consultation with the Kokatha Uwankara group will develop and implement an education and training program to enhance employment opportunities for the community.
A Liaison Committee, made up of members of the Kokatha Uwankara group and OZ Minerals representatives, will be established to enable ongoing consultation in regards to training and employment opportunities, and to develop and implement guidelines for the management of culturally sensitive areas.
OZ Minerals will also appoint an Aboriginal Liaison Officer from the Kokatha Uwankara group to act as an onsite facilitator and mentor to Aboriginal employees.
The Kokatha Uwankara will work with OZ Minerals to develop a cultural awareness course so that people working at the site understand issues of cultural significance to the Kokatha Uwankara people.
About OZ Minerals
OZ Minerals owns and operates the Prominent Hill copper-gold mine and is developing the Carrapateena advanced exploration project, both located in northern South Australia.
OZ Minerals has a workforce of around 1,500 at Prominent Hill and over 150 at Carrapateena, both including contractors. Around 80% of the Prominent Hill workforce lives and works in South Australia.
About Kokatha
The Kokatha People are the Traditional Owners of a large section of the land in the north of South Australia.
Kokatha is an Incorporated Association with membership open to "any person who is of Kokatha decent" There is a board of management who run the affairs of Kokatha.
Kokatha is committed to developing sound governance arrangements along with an established economic base which will allow for the long term development of education, employment and training opportunities.
Kokatha also aims to protect its heritage and culture and develop processes to ensure places of social, cultural, historical and spiritual significance are preserved and protected.
