WDLAC BOARD MEETING UPDATE

WDLAC BOARD MEETING UPDATE
May 2012
WDLAC Board Meeting Attendees: Teddy Biljabu (Chair), Brian Samson (Deputy Chair),
Margaret Samson, Peggy Peterson, Colin Peterson, Kevin Fred, Neil Bidu, Delores French, James
Berringal, Mitchell Biljabu, Norman Sammy, Nyeri Morgan, Evelyn Mitchell.
Welcome From the Chair
Welcome and please pass this update on to everyone
to let them know about our good work!
Teddy Biljabu (WDLAC Chairman)
Native Title Conference (Townsville)
WDLAC Deputy Chair Brian Samson, board
member James Berringal and staff member
Nyaparu (Communications) will attend the
National Native Title Conference in Townsville,
Queensland. The theme for this year’s conference
“Echoes of Mabo: Honour and Determination”
will feature speakers from all over Australia,
including Dr Andrew Turk who worked with
WDLAC to build the Kintyre Education DVD.
Dr Turk will present a paper to the conference
that outlines the process of building the education
DVD, and its effectiveness in supporting a
Martu informed decision making process.
Northwest Carbon
The WDLAC board met with Northwest Carbon
to discuss commercial opportunities for carbon
projects. Carbon projects pose a major
opportunity for Martu to engage in sustainable
enterprise on country.
(c) WDLAC 2012
ORIC Registrar Meets WDLAC Board
The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations,
Anthony Bevan, met with the WDLAC board.
Mr Bevan took the opportunity to present to the
board ORIC’s roles and responsibilities, which
are to help Indigenous corporations such as
WDLAC run properly and within the rules of the
CATSI Act (Corporations Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Act 2006).
Mr Bevan said WDLAC has improved its policies
and procedures and ORIC will work closely with
WDLAC to improve its processes into the future.
Martu Mining Services Update
Nyaparu Wright updated the board about the
latest from Martu Mining Services, which was
launched in February this year to ensure Martu
are best placed to engage in economic
opportunity.
Nyaparu Wright spoke specifically about negotiations
with NRW (Civil and Mining) with whom
MMS are currently finalising an agreement with,
as well as Credo Group with whom MMS are
negotiating a joint venture arrangement with.

WDLAC Website
Nyaparu (Communications) presented to the
board a new WDLAC website. The new site has
lots of photos and information, and also hosts
some important videos, including the Kintyre
Education Project and Curtis Taylor’s film about
the 2011 trip to Canada. The new site is now
online, check it out at www.wdlac.com.au
The board also looked at a proposal for the new
Martu Mining Services website. This website
will have important information about job and
contracting opportunities for Martu. The new
website will be online in time for the next board
meeting, you can check out the current site at
www.martuminingservices.com.au
Greening Australia
The WDLAC board talked about some of the
good work Greening Australia have done at
Jigalong. The board asked Nyaparu Whitehead
to look at WDLAC entering into a formal relationship
with Greening Australia.
Terra Rosa (Heritage Consultants)
Terra Rosa have been appointed by WDLAC
to conduct heritage survey work and provide
advice on heritage matters. The board meeting
was an opportunity for Terra Rosa staff to meet
with WDLAC board members, to talk about their
Newcrest Negotiation Meeting, April 2012
(c) WDLAC 2012
experience and how they can best work for
Martu. Initial work for Terra Rosa includes a Cultural
Heritage Management Plan for the Cameco
Kintyre Project.
Negotiations Update
Newcrest: the board was updated on the negotiation
committee’s continued negotiations
with Newcrest, including a commercial proposal
provided by Newcrest in early April.
Cameco: negotiation meetings were held with
Cameco in late February, with an on-country
meeting in Jigalong 29-30 March. The final
scheduled negotiation meeting was held in
Perth late April. 23,24 and 25 of May will be the
next meeting relating to Cameco, where WDLAC
members will be updated on negotiations and
presented with the draft ILUA for comment and
feedback.
Reward Minerals: the Reward agreement was
signed on 23 December 2011, following the
WDLAC SGM held at Parnngurr on 20 December
2011. A heritage survey has since been completed,
confirming which parts of the Lake are
cleared for mining. Large areas of the Lake have
been nominated by Martu as ‘no mining’ areas.
Contact WDLAC on 1800 449 459 or in person: 4 Clive Street,
West Perth WA