Mining Giant BHP Plans To Destroy At Least Forty 15,000-Year-Old Aboriginal Sites

BY : EMMA ROSEMURGEY ON : 11 JUN 2020 12:31



Mining Giant BHP Plans To Destroy At Least Forty 15,000-Year-Old Aboriginal Sites
BY : EMMA ROSEMURGEY ON : 11 JUN 2020 12:31

Mining Giant Plans To Destroy At Least 40 Aboriginal Sites Up To 15,000 Years OldShutterstock/PA
BHP could destroy between 40 and 86 Aboriginal sites in Western Australia to make room for a huge mining operation.

The mining giant plans to expand its $4.5 billion South Flank iron ore mining operation in central Pilbara, which is known for hosting thousands of Aboriginal people, despite acknowledging strong opposition from locals.

Sadly, those whose homes are to be destroyed have been left unable to lodge official objections against the mining plans, under section 18 of the Western Australia Heritage Act.

The Banjima people are also unable to publicly voice their concerns after they signed comprehensive agreements with BHP as part of a native title settlement, in which the mining company agreed to financial benefits for locals if they supported the South Flank project.

However, the Banjima people are said to have told the Western Australian government they didn’t want the archaeological areas to be damaged, saying the ‘impending harm’ to the area is ‘is a further significant cumulative loss to the cultural values of the Banjima people’.

In response, BHP has said it won’t disturb the ancient Aboriginal site without extensively consulting with the Banjima people first.

More:
https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/mining-giant-bhp-plans-to-destroy-at-least-forty-15000-years-old-aboriginal-sites/