Gascoyne signs native title deal

Gascoyne Resources has concluded an agreement with the native claimant group Wajarri Yamatji, enabling the company to progress plans on its 100 per cent owned Glenburgh gold project in the Gascoyne region.

Gascoyne is currently waiting for its Glenburgh mining lease to be granted in order to apply for operating licences but it expects the agreement will pave the way for the rapid grant.

“It allows for the grant on the current (application), any future mining lease applications and other tenure required for the development of the project,” Gascoyne managing director Mike Dunbar said.

The Perth-based miner currently owns three gold projects with an estimated total of 1.76 million ounces of contained gold, with Glenburgh the largest.

A 12-month preliminary feasibility study in the projected mining site completed last year estimated a total mining inventory of 4.9 million tonnes at 2.0 grams per tonne of gold for 316,600oz.

Gascoyne said the negotiation with the Wajarri Yamatji, which started more than a year ago, lasted much longer than expected.

However, Mr Dunbar said the negotiations had paid off in the end.

“Gascoyne would like to thank the Wajarri Yamatji Group for the way the negotiations were conducted over the last 15 months, which has resulted in a mutually beneficial agreement,” he said.

 “We look forward to working with the group as the project evolves to provide significant growth opportunities to the wider Gascoyne region.”

The project-wide agreement covers about 1,500 square kilometres plus further extensions to the south-west and north-east of the region, and includes future mining leases and ancillary tenure that may be needed as the project proceeds.

It promises opportunities for community development such as education, training, employment and contracting opportunities for the claimant group.