Miner, Aboriginal group in heritage stoush

A Western Australian copper miner has drawn the ire of traditional owners for failing to disclose the destruction of two heritage sites to authorities more than five years ago.

DeGrussa copper mine owner Sandfire Resources confirmed on Thursday two unregistered Aboriginal heritage sites surveyed by Yugunga-Nya traditional owners prior to the start of mining in 2017 had been destroyed without permits to do so.

The sites, described as “low-density artefact scatter”, appear to have been disturbed in 2017 and 2018 due to what Sandfire admitted was a “series of process failures” while building the Monty satellite mine north of Meekatharra.

Aerial images show one site appears to have been completely destroyed, and some disturbance has occured at the second site.

Sandfire has apologised to traditional owners and launched an investigation at the mothballed mine site to determine how this occurred.

Yugunga-Nya elder Andrew Gentle Senior said he was concerned Sandfire’s delay in reporting the destruction could help it avoid prosecution.

“We want the government to bring Sandfire to court for destroying our heritage,” he said.

“Their actions show they have no respect for Aboriginal people or Aboriginal heritage.

“This cannot be allowed to happen in the 21st century.”

Mr Gentle said he had only been informed of the destruction last month, one year after Sandfire became aware of it.

Sandfire chief executive Brendan Harris said the miner would work to rebuild relationships with traditional owners.

“Sandfire prides itself on being a values-based organisation and we are extremely sorry to have disturbed artefact scatter within the Monty mining lease during construction and mining activities,” he said.

The disturbance has now been reported to the WA government, more than five years after it occurred.

Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, anything that may reasonably be considered to be protected under the Act must be reported.

Disturbance of sites without a section 18 permit to do so can result in fines of up to $100,000.

That fine was increased to a maximum of $10 million under the botched new Aboriginal heritage protection laws, which were repealed days after being introduced in July this year.

A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the agency would liaise with Sandfire and traditional owners over the matter.

"The State Government takes matters involving Aboriginal Heritage very seriously," they said.

"The laws require approval for activities that may impact or harm Aboriginal heritage.

"A person who excavates, destroys, damages or conceals or in any way alters any Aboriginal site commits an offence."