Auric and Ngadju People agree to rewrite native title rulebook

In what may well be a landmark moment for working partnerships between the West Australian resource sector and traditional landowners, Auric Mining has signed a historic native title agreement with the Ngadju People covering the entire 102,000 square kilometres of Ngadju Country.

The groundbreaking deal, inked with the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (NNTAC) four days ago, has established a comprehensive framework for all of Auric’s current mining operations and importantly, covers any of the company’s future acquisitions within Ngadju Country.

The original Ngadju native title determination, first recognised by the Federal Court of Australia in 2014 and then again in 2017, established the Ngadju People as custodians of their ancestral lands, running from Norseman to Rawlinna in Western Australia. The new agreement replaces all prior arrangements within Ngadju Country and secures a single approach to Auric’s resource development in the future.

The company says beyond simply ensuring compliance, the deal locks in new business opportunities for the Ngadju People and lays the foundation for a long-term, respectful partnership.

Testament to the positive nature of our dialogue, we are proud to be one of the first companies to establish an area-wide agreement across the full 102,000 km² of Ngadju country.

English went on to say that the deal paves the way for smoother mining approvals and lease grants, boosting efficiency and clarity for Auric’s operations. For the Ngadju People, it unlocks significant economic gains including royalties from gold, nickel, lithium and other minerals, along with back payments for earlier activities in what appears to be one of those rare win-win deals for all involved.

Equally enthusiastic of the outcome, NNTAC managing director Graham O’Dell said the agreement provided certainty and simplified working practices with business operators. The deal also reflected a transparent, cooperative approach while honouring the rights and responsibilities of traditional owners. The new deal has been extremely timely for Auric. Hot on the heels of a soon-to-be-completed mining operation at its Jeffreys Find gold mine near Norseman which has been spitting out sizeable wads of cash, the company is now putting place the foundations for its next stage of development.

Auric is now preparing to kick off mining operations early in the new year with a starter pit at Munda near Widgiemooltha in Western Australia where it expects to generate a quick $5.3 million in free cash. It has also recently picked up the 180,000 tonne per annum Burbanks gold plant south of Coolgardie for a bargain basement price of $4.4 million with plans to at least double capacity, as the company bids to become a fully integrated gold miner.

While it may be too early to determine what the ramifications and the potential positives the new deal will bring across the wider community, it does appear to showcase an innovative and potentially vastly streamlined process for other mining companies and traditional owners to work together, balancing economic growth with cultural preservation.

For Auric, it not only secures operational clarity but also appears to strengthen its corporate reputation as a respectful and inclusive industry player.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au