TRADITIONAL OWNERS STOP BILLIONAIRES PROJECT TO HARM A SACRED RIVER

Ashburton River. Credit: Marc Russo

Traditional Owners in the Pilbara have won against the company owned by West Australian billionaires Andrew and Nicola Forrest.

The Forrests cattle business lodged an application to build two granite quarries and 10 weirs along the Minduruu (Ashburton) River.

The Minduruu River is a registered Aboriginal Heritage Site sacred to the Thalanyji people.

In Thalanyji's belief, it is where the water serpent Warnamankura lives, who protects the country.

The State Administrative Tribunal of WA handed down its determination on Thursday, refusing an appeal by the Forrests and Forrest Pty Ltd of the controversial Section 18 provision of the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

The Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC) are the native title holders of the land and participated heavily in the tribunal hearings.

“The Thalanyji people believe that human interference with the natural order of the river will have harmful spiritual effects upon Thalanyji country and Thalanyji people,” a BTAC spokesperson said.

“We are grateful that the decision on Thursday puts spiritual connection and culture before private cattle interests.”

The Section 18 approval that Forrest and Forrest needed was similar to that permit that allowed Rio Tinto to destroy the 46,000 year old Juukan Gorge shelters.

“This decision gives us hope that the lessons needed after the destruction of Juukan Gorge are being learnt,” a BTAC spokesperson said.