Antinuclear

South Australia’s Supreme Court rules in favour of Aboriginal landowners

 Mining exploration on indigenous land blocked , WA News. com.yu 15 Jan 12,AN exploration venture in South Australia’s north has been blocked by a court ruling in favour of the land’s traditional owners. Argonaut Resources and its joint venture partners, Straits Resources Ltd, were planning to start drilling for copper, gold and iron-oxide in parts of Lake Torrens and Andamooka Island.

The companies had been given ministerial approval to access the area, which is part of the traditional lands of the the Kokatha Wati and Adnyamathantha people.

But the South Australian Supreme Court has overturned that approval, ruling that the traditional owners were denied procedural fairness in not being properly consulted.

The court also found problems with the nature of the approval, ruling that Straits did not actually hold any exploration rights but that they were held by another company……

January 17, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, legal, South Australia | South Australia