KMS pushing ahead on Thunderbird clearing

Kimberley Mineral Sands will start work on a waste rock storage area at its Thunderbird mineral sands project in the Kimberley, despite challenges engaging the Traditional Owner group at the site.

KMS began mining at Thunderbird in October and plans to build a waste rock storage area at Thunderbird, which sits on lands shared by a number of Traditional Owner groups.

The project is covered by a coexistence agreement struck with the Joombarn-buru Aboriginal Corporation in 2018, which provides the opportunity for heritage monitors to salvage Aboriginal artefacts on work sites by walking the land before and after clearing activities are conducted.

KMS claims its attempts to engage Joombarn-buru Aboriginal Corporation to supply heritage monitors for the waste rock storage area under the terms of that agreement have not been heeded.

Heritage monitors are not mandatory under the coexistence agreement.

“Over the past few months, KMS has made multiple approaches to JbAC requesting heritage monitors to be involved in the clearing of a waste rock storage area,” Kimberley Mineral Sands chief executive Stuart Pether said in a statement.

“Despite repeated attempts to clarify any concerns raised by JbAC and seek further information relating to heritage sites, JbAC has failed to provide relevant details and has not agreed to provide heritage monitors during clearing.”

An additional object of cultural significance was recently identified nearby, and KMS said it had notified the Aboriginal Affairs minister and taken steps to protect the artefact in preparation for the waste storage area in accordance with its Aboriginal heritage obligations.

The company said it had also confirmed with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage that all necessary Aboriginal heritage approvals are in place at Thunderbird.

“The Department for Planning, Lands and Heritage has confirmed that conditions of the Section 18 approval have been adhered to, and clearing can commence,” Mr Pether said.

KMS said its approvals were issued based on the advice of the Kimberley Land Council that the mechanism of engagement with Traditional Owners at the time was appropriate.

Traditional Owners had previously alleged KMS had cleared land without heritage surveys and environmental approvals, a claim disputed by the company.

The Kimberley Land Council has been contacted for comment.

KMS has long-term contracts with 11 Aboriginal businesses at Thunderbird, including seven Joombarn-buru-owned businesses, and forecasts spend of more than $21 million with those businesses in 2024.

Mr Pether will leave the company at the end of the week, after his Perth-based role was made redundant by the company during an organisational restructure.

KMS, a joint venture between ASX-listed Sheffield Resources and Yansteel, will be based in the West Kimberley once its restructure is complete.