The Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation (BBAC), representing the Barada Barna people, has entered into a Native Title Project Agreement with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) for its mining operations in the Bowen Basin, which includes the Broadmeadow, Caval Ridge, Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, and Saraji mines.
This is the second Native Title Project Agreement negotiated between BBAC and BHP in Queensland, and the first between BBAC and BMA. The agreement sets a new course in the relationship between the two parties, offering long-term benefits to the Barada Barna people, the traditional landowners of the area where BMA operates.
Under the agreement, BMA will provide financial support for community projects that aim to enhance opportunities for the Barada Barna people to live and work on their ancestral lands. This strengthens their connection to the land and provides financial benefits for social and economic development, including contracting, business, employment, education, and training opportunities.
The agreement is designed to provide sustainable long-term benefits, particularly in areas such as employment and contracting, which are expected to lead to economic and social improvements. It also supports the return of Barada Barna people to their traditional lands to live and work.
The agreement acknowledges the cultural and spiritual connection of the Barada Barna people to the land and surrounding waterways. It also promotes a relationship between BMA and the Barada Barna people based on mutual trust, respect, and shared benefits. In addition, the agreement includes initiatives to increase awareness of Barada Barna history and culture within BMA’s workforce through cultural awareness programs.
This agreement is seen as part of BHP’s broader commitment to fostering strong partnerships with Traditional Owners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and communities across Australia. It reflects years of negotiation aimed at creating sustainable economic, social, and cultural benefits for the Barada Barna people.
BMA’s collaboration with the Barada Barna people in reaching this agreement is intended to honor their cultural heritage and connection to the land. The agreement is designed to provide long-term benefits, including employment, contracting, and economic opportunities, for future generations of Barada Barna people.
The Barada Barna people, who have held native title over more than 3,000 square kilometers of land in Central Queensland since September 2016, are the traditional custodians of the area where BMA’s mining operations are located.
