Allen on behalf of the Nyamal People #1 v State of Western Australia
[2019] FCA 1570
•24 September 2019
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Allen on behalf of the Nyamal People #1 v State of Western Australia
[2019] FCA 1570
File number: WAD 20 of 2019 Judge: REEVES J Date of judgment: 24 September 2019 Catchwords: NATIVE TITLE – application for determination of native title under s 87A of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) – whether the parties have satisfied the criteria set out in s 87A – whether it is appropriate for the Court to make an order in terms of the agreement reached by the parties Legislation: Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
Native Title (Prescribed Bodies Corporate) Regulations 1999 (Cth)
Cases cited: Billy Patch and Others on behalf of the Birriliburu People v State of Western Australia [2008] FCA 944
Doctor on behalf of the Bigambul People v State of Queensland [2016] FCA 1447
Nelson v Northern Territory (2010) 190 FCR 344; [2010] FCA 1343
Sharpe v State of Western Australia [2013] FCA 599
Date of hearing: 24 September 2019 Registry: Western Australia Division: General Division National Practice Area: Native Title Category: Catchwords Number of paragraphs: 41 Solicitor for the Applicant: Arma Legal Solicitor for the First Respondent: State Solicitor’s Office Solicitor for the Second to Fourth Respondents: Ashurst Australia Solicitor for the Fifth to Twenty-Sixth Respondents: Castledine Gregory Solicitor for the Twenty-Seventh Respondent: The Twenty-Seventh Respondent appeared in person Solicitor for the Twenty-Eighth Respondent: Roe Legal Services Solicitor for the Intervener: Australian Government Solicitor ORDERS
WAD 20 of 2019 BETWEEN: KEVIN CHARLES ALLEN, ALICE MITCHELL, JEAN WALKER, TONY TAYLOR AND WILLIE JUMBO ON BEHALF OF THE NYAMAL PEOPLE #1
Applicant
AND: STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
First Respondent
MT GOLDSWORTHY JOINT VENTURERS
Second Respondent
MT NEWMAN JOINT VENTURERS (and others named in the Schedule)
Third Respondent
ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Intervener
JUDGE:
REEVES J
DATE OF ORDER:
24 SEPTEMBER 2019
THE COURT NOTES THAT:
A.The Applicant in proceedings WAD 20 of 2019 has made a native title determination application (“Nyamal Application”).
B.The Applicant in the Nyamal Application, the State of Western Australia and the other Respondents to the proceedings (“the parties”) have reached an agreement as to the terms of the determination which is to be made in relation to part of the land and waters covered by the Nyamal Application (“the Determination Area”). The external boundaries of the Determination Area are described in Schedule One to the Determination.
C.The parties have agreed that, in respect of the balance of the land and waters of the Nyamal Application (namely those areas of the Nyamal Application which are overlapped by native title determination applications WAD 23 of 2019 (“Palyku Application”) and WAD 483 of 2018 (“Palyku Application #2”)), no determination be made at present. The overlap between the Nyamal Application and the Palyku and Palyku #2 Applications is currently the subject of a separate question and separate proceeding constituted by orders made by the Court on 31 August 2018.
D.Pursuant to subsections 87A(1) and (2) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Native Title Act) the parties have filed with this Court an agreement in writing setting out the terms of the agreement reached by the parties in relation to part of the Nyamal Application.
E.The terms of the agreement involve the making of consent orders for a determination pursuant to sections 87A and 94A of the Native Title Act that native title exists in relation to the land and waters of the Determination Area.
F.The parties acknowledge that the effect of the making of the Determination is that the members of the native title claim group, in accordance with the traditional laws acknowledged and the traditional customs observed by them, should be recognised as the native title holders for the Determination Area as set out in the Determination.
G.Pursuant to section 87A(4) of the Native Title Act, the parties have requested that the Court determine the proceedings that relate to the Determination Area without holding a hearing.
H.The Applicant in the Nyamal Application has nominated the Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8770) pursuant to section 56(2)(a) of the Native Title Act to hold the determined native title in trust for the native title holders.
BEING SATISFIED that a determination of native title in the terms set out in Attachment A would be within the power of the Court and, it appearing to the Court appropriate to do so, pursuant to sections 87A and 94A of the Native Title Act and by the consent of the parties:
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1.In relation to the Determination Area, there be a determination of native title in WAD 20 of 2019 in the terms provided for in Attachment A.
2.The Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation (ICN: 8770) shall hold the determined native title in trust for the native title holders pursuant to section 56(2)(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).
3.There be no order as to costs.
ATTACHMENT A
DETERMINATION
THE COURT ORDERS, DECLARES AND DETERMINES THAT:
Existence of native title: section 225 Native Title Act
1.Subject to paragraph 2, native title exists in the Determination Area in the manner set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Determination.
2.Native title does not exist in those parts of the Determination Area that are identified in Schedule Four and which are generally shown as shaded pink on the maps at Schedule Two.
Native title holders: section 225(a) Native Title Act
3.The native title in the Determination Area is held by the Nyamal People.
The nature and extent of native title rights and interests: sections 225(b) and 225(e) Native Title Act
Exclusive rights and interests
4.Subject to paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 11 the nature and extent of the native title rights and interests in relation to the Exclusive Area is:
(a)except in relation to flowing and underground waters, the right to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment to the exclusion of all others; and
(b)in relation to flowing and underground waters, the right to use and enjoy the flowing and underground waters, including:
(i)the right to hunt on, fish from, take and use the traditional resources of the flowing and underground waters; and
(ii)the right to take and use the flowing and underground waters.
Non-exclusive rights and interests
5.Subject to paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 11 the nature and extent of the native title rights and interests in relation to the Non-Exclusive Area is that they confer the following non-exclusive rights on the Nyamal People, including the right to conduct activities necessary to give effect to them:
(a)the right to live, being to enter and remain, camp and erect temporary shelters and other temporary structures for that purpose and to travel over and visit any part of the Non-Exclusive Area;
(b)the right to hunt, fish, gather and use the traditional resources of the Non-Exclusive Area;
(c)the right to take and use water on the Non-Exclusive Area; and
(d)the right to engage in cultural activities and the transmission of cultural knowledge on the Non-Exclusive Area, including:
(i)visiting places of cultural or spiritual importance and protecting those places by carrying out lawful activities to preserve their physical or spiritual integrity; and
(ii)conducting burials, ceremony and ritual.
(e)the right to be accompanied on to the Non-Exclusive Area by those people who, though not Nyamal People and who (for the avoidance of doubt) cannot themselves exercise any native title rights, are:
(i)the non-Nyamal spouses, parents or children of the Nyamal People; or
(ii)people required by traditional law and custom for the performance of ceremonies or cultural activities on the Non-Exclusive Area.
Qualifications on the native title rights and interests
6.The native title rights and interests are subject to and exercisable in accordance with:
(a)the laws of the State and the Commonwealth, including the common law; and
(b)the traditional laws and customs of the Nyamal People for personal, domestic, and communal purposes (including social, cultural, religious, spiritual and ceremonial purposes).
7.Notwithstanding anything in this Determination there are no native title rights and interests in the Determination Area in relation to:
(a)minerals as defined in the Mining Act 1904 (WA) (repealed) and in the Mining Act 1978 (WA), except to the extent that ochre is not a mineral pursuant to the Mining Act 1904 (WA) (repealed);
(b)petroleum as defined in the Petroleum Act 1936 (WA) (repealed) and in the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (WA);
(c)geothermal energy resources and geothermal energy as defined in the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (WA); or
(d)water lawfully captured by the holders of the Other Interests.
8.The native title rights and interests set out in paragraphs 4(b) and 5 do not confer:
(a)possession, occupation, use and enjoyment on the Nyamal People to the exclusion of all others; or
(b)a right to control the access to, or use of, those parts of the Determination Area or its resources.
Areas to which sections 47A or 47B of the Native Title Act apply
9.Sections 47A and 47B of the Native Title Act apply to disregard any prior extinguishment in relation to the land and waters described in Schedule Five.
The nature and extent of any Other Interests
10.The nature and extent of the Other Interests are described in Schedule Six.
Relationship between native title rights and Other Interests
11.Except as otherwise provided for by law, the relationship between the native title rights and interests described in paragraphs 4 and 5 and the Other Interests is that:
(a)to the extent that any of the Other Interests are inconsistent with the continued existence, enjoyment or exercise of the native title rights and interests, the native title rights and interests continue to exist in their entirety, but the native title rights and interests have no effect in relation to the Other Interests to the extent of the inconsistency during the currency of the Other Interests; and otherwise,
(b)the existence and exercise of the native title rights and interests do not prevent the doing of any activity required or permitted to be done by or under the Other Interests, and the Other Interests, and the doing of any activity required or permitted to be done by or under the Other Interests, prevail over the native title rights and interests and any exercise of the native title rights and interests but do not extinguish them.
Definitions and Interpretation
12.In this Determination, unless the contrary intention appears:
“Determination Area” means the land and waters described in Schedule One and depicted on the maps at Schedule Two;
“Exclusive Area” means those lands and waters of the Determination Area described in Schedule Three (which areas are generally shown as shaded green on the maps at Schedule Two);
“flowing water” means the following water within the Determination Area:
(a)water which flows, whether permanently, intermittently or occasionally, within any river, creek, stream or brook; and
(b)any natural collection of water into, through, or out of which a river, creek, stream or brook flows;
“land” has the same meaning as in the Native Title Act and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes any natural collection of water found on the land which does not fall within the definition of “waters”;
“Native Title Act” means the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth);
“Non-Exclusive Area” means those lands and waters of the Determination Area which are not Exclusive Areas or described in paragraph 2 as an area where native title does not exist (which areas are generally shown as shaded yellow on the maps at Schedule Two);
“Nyamal People” means the people referred to in Schedule Seven;
“Other Interests” means the legal or equitable estates or interests and other rights in relation to the Determination Area described in Schedule Six and referred to in paragraph 10;
“resources” means flora, fauna, and other natural resources such as charcoal, stone, soil, sand, clay, gravel, timber, resin and ochre (except, for the avoidance of doubt, ochres for use in the manufacture of porcelain, fine pottery or pigments which are minerals pursuant to the Mining Act 1904 (WA) (repealed));
“Titles Validation Act” means the Titles (Validation) and Native Title (Effect of Past Acts) Act 1995 (WA);
“use” does not include use by way of trade;
“underground water” means water from and including an underground water source, including water that percolates from the ground; and
“waters” has the same meaning as in the Native Title Act and includes flowing and underground water.
13.In the event of any inconsistency between the written description of an area in Schedule One, Three, Four, Five or Six and the area as depicted on the maps at Schedule Two the written description prevails.
SCHEDULE ONE
DETERMINATION AREA
The Determination Area, generally shown as bordered in blue on the maps at Schedule Two,
comprises all land and waters bounded by the following description:
All those lands and waters commencing at Latitude 20.455583 South and Longitude 118.782218 East being a point on the present boundary of Native Title Determination WAD6185/1998 Ngarla and Ngarla 2 (Area A) (WCD2007/003) and extending generally easterly along the boundaries of that native title determination to a point on the western boundary of Pastoral Lease N050091 (Strelley) at Latitude 20.448278 South; Then generally southerly, easterly and generally northerly along boundaries of that pastoral lease to the westernmost southwestern corner of Pastoral Lease N050454 (Panorama); Then northerly, easterly, generally northeasterly, generally northerly and again easterly along boundaries of that pastoral lease to the westernmost northwestern corner of Pastoral Lease N049987 (Eginbah); Then generally easterly along the boundaries of that pastoral lease to the intersection with a western boundary of Pastoral Lease N050507 (Muccan); Then northerly along the boundaries of that pastoral lease to the southernmost southeastern corner of Pastoral Lease N050027 (De Grey); Then generally westerly and northerly along the boundaries of that pastoral lease to Latitude 20.499104 South being a point on the present boundary of Native Title Determination WAD6185/1998 Ngarla and Ngarla 2 (Area A) (WCD2007/003); Then generally easterly and generally northeasterly along the boundaries of that native title determination to Latitude 20.340141 South, Longitude 119.642311 East; Then generally easterly through the following coordinate positions:
Latitude (South) Longitude (East) 20.339671 119.658516 20.344471 119.700816 20.355770 119.758716 20.368570 119.821916 20.377570 119.871216 20.383469 119.907716 20.394069 119.962316 20.408868 120.045616 20.410668 120.096817 20.418167 120.140517 20.422368 120.177316 20.436067 120.304016
Then southeasterly to a southwestern boundary of Reserve 12297 at Longitude 120.344825 East; Then generally southeasterly along the boundaries of that reserve to Longitude 120.767153 East; Then generally southeasterly through the following coordinate positions:
Latitude (South) Longitude (East) 20.639361 120.768315 20.641561 120.779115 20.644361 120.789915 20.647161 120.801415 20.650461 120.812115 20.654661 120.825915 20.658261 120.838415 20.661861 120.846115 20.667661 120.859015 20.670661 120.866115 20.677161 120.879015 20.684860 120.893615 20.694360 120.908615 20.698660 120.917415 20.702260 120.924415 20.705760 120.930815 20.708560 120.936115 20.711360 120.941315 20.713960 120.944815 20.717160 120.948115 20.720162 120.951753 20.783524 120.985634
Then easterly to a western boundary of Native Title Determination WAD6110/1998 Martu (Area A) (WCD2002/002) at Latitude 20.783613 South; Then southerly and easterly along the boundaries of that native title determination to the intersection with a western boundary of Reserve 12297 at Latitude 20.998625 South; Then generally southerly along the boundaries of that reserve to Latitude 21.118060 South; Then generally southerly and southeasterly through the following coordinate positions:
Latitude (South) Longitude (East) 21.124560 121.184017 21.132059 121.184518 21.138059 121.186317 21.145059 121.187418 21.152659 121.188517 21.160859 121.189517 21.169559 121.190418 21.169559 121.190418 21.178259 121.190718 21.185259 121.191218 21.190459 121.191918 21.195059 121.191418 21.201459 121.191318 21.208859 121.190518 21.219759 121.189418 21.239659 121.186018 21.251659 121.184718 21.268859 121.183519 21.296660 121.184919 21.309160 121.188519 21.312760 121.190019 21.316860 121.190819 21.322860 121.192619 21.330460 121.194319 21.335260 121.195719 21.339860 121.195819 21.348660 121.197319 21.351660 121.198319 21.357560 121.199519 21.365260 121.201819 21.372860 121.203419 21.376460 121.204319 21.381660 121.205019 21.384660 121.205919 21.387660 121.206820 21.391860 121.208320 21.401960 121.211520 21.404960 121.213120 21.408060 121.215220 21.412760 121.216620 21.419960 121.218920 21.426360 121.220120 21.433560 121.223120 21.438360 121.225020 21.442060 121.227120 21.445660 121.228620 21.449260 121.230120 21.452960 121.232220 21.457760 121.234820 21.462660 121.237420 21.468060 121.239920 21.472960 121.243120 21.478960 121.245620 21.483959 121.249420 21.487659 121.251520 21.490659 121.253720 21.494959 121.256320 21.499259 121.258320 21.508359 121.264221 21.512759 121.268121 21.517759 121.271921 21.521559 121.275221 21.525259 121.278021 21.528359 121.280121 21.531959 121.282221 21.535059 121.284421 21.538259 121.287121 21.542460 121.289221 21.546160 121.291921 21.549860 121.294621 21.554260 121.297921 21.557960 121.300621 21.561760 121.303921 21.566060 121.307221 21.570960 121.310420 21.575959 121.314220 21.580359 121.318120 21.584659 121.321420 21.589059 121.324720 21.593359 121.328020 21.597759 121.332520 21.602859 121.336920 21.609059 121.342520 21.614059 121.346320 21.618559 121.350820 21.623559 121.355320 21.627959 121.359820 21.632459 121.364320 21.637560 121.369320 21.642060 121.374520 21.647160 121.379520 21.651060 121.384720 21.655560 121.389220 21.663861 121.398920 21.674761 121.410220 21.683061 121.419320 21.686360 121.424020 21.689560 121.427320 21.691660 121.431520 21.693660 121.434420 21.696260 121.437220
Then southeasterly to a western boundary of Reserve 12297 at Latitude 21.697745 South; Then
generally southerly along the boundaries of that reserve to Latitude 22.176991 South, being a point on a northern boundary of Native Title Determination WAD6280/1998 Nyiyaparli People
(WCD2018/008); Then generally northwesterly along the boundary of that native title determination to the intersection with the easternmost northeastern point of Native Title Determination WAD23/2019 Palyku Part A (WCD2019/002); Then generally northerly, westerly, and southerly through the following coordinate positions:
Latitude (South) Longitude (East) 22.019390 120.965246 21.574907 120.788483 21.569416 120.767889 21.553970 120.715032 21.536123 120.650848 21.520677 120.596951 21.513813 120.572248 21.507978 120.557832 21.494935 120.539641 21.487041 120.523510 21.471939 120.500513 21.464388 120.486097 21.461299 120.478890 21.454091 120.449715 21.443107 120.414019 21.433840 120.379353 21.424230 120.344000 21.419425 120.324093 21.409814 120.281876 21.404322 120.255104 21.401577 120.240345 21.400890 120.227302 21.399517 120.205336 21.402263 120.174102 21.405695 120.155911 21.406725 120.093443 21.406039 120.047107 21.404666 120.031662 21.396771 120.016560 21.386131 120.002830 21.381326 119.990474 21.369999 119.971253 21.356614 119.951003 21.347346 119.936587 21.337049 119.915650 21.326409 119.897802 21.320918 119.884073 21.314396 119.870344 21.309591 119.862106 21.301354 119.856271 21.294146 119.852839 21.285908 119.851466 21.279044 119.846661 21.272522 119.840140 21.267031 119.834305 21.265658 119.826410 21.266344 119.806846 21.267031 119.790028 21.268747 119.770464 21.269090 119.736484 21.270463 119.709026 21.271836 119.681224 21.272522 119.659944 21.272866 119.646558 21.275611 119.629053 21.278357 119.610176 21.284535 119.582374 21.290027 119.548395 21.292086 119.530547 21.299637 119.505834 21.304786 119.487643 21.307875 119.468079 21.311650 119.444739 21.316112 119.420027 21.320231 119.395314 21.322291 119.385361 21.323320 119.376093 21.330871 119.364424 21.342541 119.344516 21.352152 119.326668 21.366224 119.305731 21.395055 119.277243 21.423543 119.247382 21.471252 119.205165
Then southwesterly along a line joining coordinate positions Latitude 21.471252 South, Longitude 119.205165 East and Latitude 21.511067 South, Longitude 119.174274 East to the intersection of a line joining coordinate positions Latitude 21.513187 South, Longitude 119.182725 East and Latitude 21.490587 South, Longitude 119.162025 East; Then generally northwesterly through the following coordinate positions:
Latitude (South) Longitude (East) 21.490587 119.162025 21.468087 119.143025 21.446087 119.124325 21.429687 119.111625 21.412887 119.102125 21.392387 119.090525
Then northwesterly to the northernmost northeastern corner of Reserve 22626; Then westerly along the northern boundary of that reserve to an intersection with the eastern boundary of Native Title Determination WAD47/2014 Kariyarra - Abydos (WCD2018/015); Then generally northwesterly along the boundary of that native title determination to the intersection with the eastern boundary of Native Title Determination WAD6169/1998 Kariyarra People (WCD2018/015); Then generally northwesterly along the boundary of that native title determination to the intersection with the eastern boundary of Native Title Determination WAD232/2009 Kariyarra - Pipingarra (WCD2018/015); Then generally northeasterly along the boundary of that native title determination back to the commencement point.
Note:Geographic Coordinates provided in Decimal Degrees.
Cadastral boundaries sourced from Landgate’s Spatial Cadastral Database dated 01 July 2019.
For the avoidance of doubt the application excludes any land and waters already claimed by:
·Native Title Determination WAD77/2005 Ngarla Overlap Proceeding (WCD2013/001) as Determined in the Federal Court on 19/02/2013.
·Native Title Determination WAD6185/1998 Ngarla and Ngarla 2 (Area A) (WCD2007/003) as Determined in the Federal Court on 30/05/2007.
·Native Title Determination WAD6281/1998 Nyangumarta People (Part A) (WCD2009/001) as Determined in the Federal Court on 11/06/2009.
·Native Title Determination WAD6110/1998 Martu (Area A) (WCD2002/002) as Determined in the Federal Court on 27/09/2002.
·Native Title Determination WAD6280/1998 Nyiyaparli People (WCD2018/008) as Determined in the Federal Court on 26/09/2018
·Native Title Determination WAD23/2019 Palyku Part A (WCD2019/002) as Determined in the Federal Court on 12/03/2019.
·Native Title Determination WAD6169/1998 Kariyarra People (WCD2018/015) as Determined in the Federal Court on 13/12/2018.
·Native Title Determination WAD232/2009 Kariyarra - Pipingarra (WCD2018/015) as Determined in the Federal Court on 13/12/2018.
·Native Title Determination WAD47/2014 Kariyarra - Abydos (WCD2018/015) as Determined in the Federal Court on 13/12/2018.
·Native Title Determination Application WAD26/2019 Njamal People #10 (WC2000/005).
·Native Title Determination Application WAD23/2019 Palyku (WC1999/016).
·Native Title Determination Application WAD483/2018 Palyku #2 (WC2018/022).
Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94)
Prepared By: Graphic Services (Landgate) 30 July 2019
Use of Coordinates:
Where coordinates are used within the description to represent cadastral or topographical boundaries or the intersection with such, they are intended as a guide only. As an outcome to the custodians of cadastral and topographic data continuously recalculating the geographic position of their data based on improved survey and data maintenance procedures, it is not possible to accurately define such a position other than by detailed ground survey.
SCHEDULE TWO
MAPS OF THE DETERMINATION AREA
SCHEDULE THREE
EXCLUSIVE AREA
Areas where native title comprises the rights set out in paragraph 4 of the Determination.
Native title comprises the rights and interests set out in paragraph 4 of the Determination in relation to the land and waters the subject of the following interests (which areas are generally shown as shaded green on the maps at Schedule Two).
Tenure ID. Description GE I134817
(SL 3116/11682) (part)That part of Lease GE I134817 (being a lease for the purpose of Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants (De Grey Location 102)) not subject to the Yarrie Mine UCL 025 (part) That part of UCL 025 not subject to, or formerly subject to, mining leases M 4500434 and M 4500435
For the purpose of this Schedule Yarrie Mine comprises all those land and waters bounded by the following description:
All those lands and waters commencing at the intersection of a western boundary of General Lease I134817 with a northern boundary of Mining Lease M45/1018-I at approximately 219,108.663mE, 7,720,257.045mN and extending easterly along the boundary of that mining lease to the intersection with a western boundary of Mineral Lease S.A. ML 249SA at approximately 219,900.414mE, 7,720,268.823mN; Then northerly, easterly and southerly along boundaries of that mineral lease S.A. to the intersection with a northern boundary of Mining Lease S.A. M263SA at approximately 223,080.003mE, 7,721,622.474mN; Then easterly, southerly and westerly along boundaries of that mining lease S.A. to the intersection with a western boundary of Mining Lease M45/1016-I at approximately 219,966.333mE, 7,717,359.963mN; Then southerly along the boundary of that mining lease to the intersection with a southern boundary of General Lease I134817; Then westerly and northerly along the boundary of that general lease back to the commencement point.
EXCLUSIONS
All that land being the subject of General Lease I123414 which, to avoid doubt, is an area where native title does not exist.
Note:Cadastral boundaries sourced from Landgate’s Spatial Cadastral Database dated 31st October 2017.
Mining Tenements sourced from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety as at 25th October 2017.
Datum: MGA94, Grid Coordinates (Easting, Northing, Zone 51)
Prepared By: Graphic Services (Landgate) 7th March 2018
Use of Coordinates:
Where coordinates are used within the description to represent cadastral or topographical boundaries or the intersection with such, they are intended as a guide only. As an outcome to the custodians of cadastral and topographic data continuously recalculating the geographic position of their data based on improved survey and data maintenance procedures, it is not possible to accurately define such a position other than by detailed ground survey.
SCHEDULE FOUR
AREAS WHERE NATIVE TITLE DOES NOT EXIST (Paragraph 2)
Native title does not exist in relation to land and waters the subject of the following interests within the Determination Area which, with the exception of public works (as described in clause 6 of this Schedule), are generally shown as shaded in pink on the maps at Schedule Two:
1. Freehold
The following grants of estates in fee simple within the Determination Area:
Certificate of Title Certificate of Title Certificate of Title CT0004600171A CT0044900169 CT0131700923 CT0006000006 CT0046400051 CT0131700924 CT0006000141 CT0046400089 CT0133300038 CT0007500200A CT0047700154 CT0133700826 CT0008500172 CT0050800035A CT0133700827 CT0008500177 CT0059100183 CT0133700828 CT0017900106A CT0103600930 CT0134300031 CT0017900107A CT0105900237 CT0135000147 CT0017900108A CT0106300632 CT0135000148 CT0017900109A CT0107000630 CT0135000149 CT0019200097A CT0107000848 CT0135000150 CT0019200141A CT0109000211 CT0135200214 CT0019900140A CT0110800633 CT0136000155 CT0025800064 CT0112700615 CT0137300358 CT0028100112A CT0112700616 CT0140300457 CT0028300006A CT0123300620 CT0141000178 CT0030600141A CT0125200962 CT0141900170 CT0032100014A CT0129600919 CT0144800895 CT0035500077A CT0131000273 CT0144800896 CT0041600157 CT0131000274 CT0146500853 CT0042100119A CT0131400439 CT0146700526 CT0044700149 CT0177500958 CT0150100292 CT0044800053 CT0131700187 CT0277200137 CT0150100291 CT0131700922 CT0288300370 CT0156800930 CT0177500960 CT0222000755 CT0157800579 CT0179700295 GT0001000069 CT0163100057 CT0179700296 GT0001000070 CT0164400586 CT0180000107 GT0001000071 CT0164400587 CT0180000108 GT0001000072 CT0164400588 CT0180000109 GT0001000073 CT0164400589 CT0180200838 GT0001000084 CT0167500966 CT0180200839 GT0001000151 CT0167500967 CT0181300156 GT0001000152 CT0168500287 CT0182100785 GT0001000265 CT0168500288 CT0182400105 GT0001000427 CT0170600116 CT0183700949 GT0001000428 CT0170600277 CT0183800930 GT0001000429 CT0170600278 CT0184800798 GT0001000430 CT0170600279 CT0186300113 GT0001000431 CT0172500601 CT0190100110 GT0001000432 CT0173100714 CT0190700326 GT0001000433 CT0173200920 CT0191900201 GT0001100271 CT0173200921 CT0191900202 GT0001100317 CT0173500517 CT0194000961 GT0001100406 (part) 1 CT0173500518 CT0194000962 GT0001100407 CT0173500519 CT0196000347 GT0001100452 CT0173600849 CT0197200664 GT0001100453 CT0174800644 CT0198300226 GT0001100541 CT0174900574 CT0199700479 GT0001100542 CT0174900575 CT0204400300 GT0001100543 CT0175500861 CT0204400335 GT0001100598 CT0175500862 CT0204400336 GT0001100656 CT0175800183 CT0215600753 GT0001100724 CT0177500956 CT0215600754 GT0001300329 CT0177500957 CT0219400997 GT0001300374 GT0002000138 CT0222000754 GT0001300463 (part) 2 CT0177500959 CT0217600101 GT0002000139 GT0002000406 CT0219400906 GT0002000164 GT0002100446 (part) 3 LG0041600157 LG0044700149 GT0002100770 LG0042600171 LG0044800053 GT0002300210 LG0042700199 LG0044900169 GT0002300548 LG0042800115 LG0046400051 GT0002300705 LG0042900120 (part) 4 LG0047000194 LG0041000030 LG0043000042 (part) 5 LG0052300032 LG0044100150 1To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
2To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
3To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
4To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
5To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
2.Reserves
The following Reserves:
Reserve No. Current / Last Purpose 02338 Park and Drainage 02339 Public Buildings 02906 (part) 6 Common 07080 Public Utility and Stopping Place for Travellers and Stock Former 10717 Recreation 12233 Sanitary Site 12431 School Site 12459 Mineral Processing 13157 Explosives 14700 Water Supply 15156 State Battery Site 16549 Water 17139 Water 18404 Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants 24096 Park and Recreation 25354 Recreation 26960 Park and Drainage 27265 Recreation 28380 Native Ceremonial Grounds 29266 Gravel 29796 Water Supply 29882 Public Recreation (Children’s Playground) 30929 Water Supply 31047 Preservation of Natural Formations Former 31655 Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants Former 32403 (part) 7 Open Air Picture Theatre 32622 Water Supply Former 33089 Use and Requirements of the Shire of East Pilbara 33604 Housing (Community Health Services) 33778 Power Station Site 33779 Power Station Site and Depot 33941 Pipeline 34048 Depot and Fire Station 34201 Recreation Former 34210 Civic Purposes 35814 Water Supply 36431 Hospital Site Former 36506 Radio and Television Station Site 37658 Water Storage 38596 Drainage 38639 Cemetery Site 39032 Water Supply 39425 Park and Drainage 41179 Mining 41330 Communications Aerial 41518 Repeater Station Site 42413 Repeater Station Site 42528 Repeater Station Site 43938 Repeater Station Site 44422 Tourism and Related Activities 48556 Automatic Weather Station 6Area as vested pursuant to section 33 of the Land Act 1933 (WA) on 16 November 1973, to the extent not subject to the application of section 47A of the Native Title Act (being Reserve 39860): see Schedule Five
7To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
3. Leases
The following leases:
Lease No. Current / Last Purpose Special Leases GE I123397 (SL 3116/06326) Boring for conserving, reticulating and drawing water GE I123406 (SL 3116/05104) Construction, erection, development, maintenance, use and operation of a power transmission line between Goldsworthy / Shay Gap / Kennedy Gap and all ancillary installations and facilities GE I123405 (SL 3116/05661) Laying out, development, operation and use of an aerodrome GE I123408 (SL 3116/05105 ) Laying out, development, operation and use of a townsite GE I123410 (SL 3116/05647) Boring for conserving, reticulating and drawing water Former GE I123414 (SL 3116/05978) Construction, upgrading, re-alignment, operation and use of a railway including all necessary bridges, culverts, crossing places, signalling switch and other gear and all proper or usual works therefore Former GE I123591 (SL 3116/06935) Construction, upgrading, re-alignment, operation and use of a railway including all necessary bridges, culverts, crossing places, signalling switch and other gear and all proper or usual works therefore Former GE I123662 (SL 3116/08262) Construction, erection, installation, operation, use and maintenance of a television and radio transmission mast for the transmission of television and radio signals from Mount Goldsworthy to Shay Gap GE I123721 (SL 3116/06648) Boring for conserving, reticulating and drawing water Former GE I126953 (SL 3116/11323) Residence and Grazing Former GE I127594 (SL 3116/11249) Residence Former GE I131321 (SL 3116/11427) Light Industry Former GE I134597 (SL 3116/11571) Residence GE I150259 (SL 3116/11259) Agriculture Former GE I150518 (SL 3116/11094) Residence and Grazing GE I154279 (SL 3116/03687) Construction, development, maintenance, use and operation of a railway and ancillary installations and facilities including a service road between the mine townsite and the port Former SL 3116/09892 (currently GE L546512) Residence and Agriculture Former SL 3116/10118 (currently GE L557207) Residence Former SL 3116/10151 (currently GE L594979) Horticulture and Storage Former SL 1874/152 Market Garden Former SL 3116/00469 (part) 8 Grazing Former SL 3116/02752 (part) 9 Grazing Former SL 3116/03462 Boring for conserving, reticulation and drawing water Former SL 3116/03584 Residence GE N105667 (SL 3116/04028) Construction, development, maintenance, use and operation of radio communications and ancillary installations and facilities between the mine and the port Former SL 3116/04491 Boring for conserving, reticulation and drawing water Former SL 3116/05870 Boring for conserving, reticulation and drawing water Former SL 3116/06140 Boring for conserving, reticulation and drawing water Former SL 3116/06981 Market Gardening Former SL 3116/07982 Market Garden Former SL 3116/08954 Agriculture Former SL 3116/09170 Residential Purposes Former SL 3116/09373 Residence and Agriculture Former SL 3116/09605 Construction, erection, installation, operation, use and maintenance of water supply facilities for the supply of water to the minesite at Shay Gap Former SL 3116/10206 Residence and Agriculture Former SL 3117/01358 Town or Suburban Lot Former SL 3117/02878 Town or Suburban Lot Reserve Leases Former RL 332/0568 Grazing (granted over Reserve 07979) Former RL 332/1455 Grazing (granted over Reserve 16473) Former RL 333/0720 Rifle Range (granted over Reserve 38097) Former RL 409/41A Pastoral Purposes (granted over Reserve 07969) Former RL 452/41A Pastoral Purposes (granted over Reserve 10079) Former RL 472/41A Pastoral Purposes (granted over Reserve 10079)
8To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
9To the extent not subject to the application of section 47B of the Native Title Act: see Schedule Five
4. Roads
The following dedicated roads, roads set aside, taken or resumed or roads which are to be considered public works (as that expression is defined in the Native Title Act and the Titles Validation Act):
MapInfo ID. Description Shown on Road 001 Portion of McLeod Close DP 168895 & CPP 504674 Road 002 Portion of Lynas Road and General Street DP 171725 & CPP 504674 Road 003 Portion of Augusta Street DP 174422 Road 004 Portion of Contest Street DP 175227 Road 005 Portion of Station Street DP 216242 Road 031 Portion of Nichols Street DP 181717 Road 032 Portion of Nichols Street DP 188859 Road 033 Portion of Nichols Street DP 192339 Road 034 Portion of Nichols Street DP 192340 Road 036 Portions of Nichols Street, Comet Mine Road and General Street DP 211568 Road 037 Unnamed road DP 213482 Road 039 Portion of General Street DP 216158 Road 041 That road running between Garden Road and Lot 70 DP 216831 Road 042 Portion of General Street DP 217447 Road 044 Portion of Road No. 6443 (Comet Mine Road) DP 215269 & Gaz 15/04/1983 Road 045 Portion of Road No. 6443 (Halse Road) DP 189122 & Gaz 17/05/1991 Road 046 Portion of General Street DP 172372, DP 171725 & CPP 504673 Road 047 Green Street DP 176130 Road 048 Portion of Halse Road DP 180945 Road 049 Portion of McLeod Close DP 217408 Road 051 Portion of Road No. 06443 (Halse Road) DP 184045 Road 052 Road No. 14845 Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 24/08/1973 Road 053 Road No. 15203 DP 212032 & Gaz 19/07/1974 Road 056 Portion of Road No. 16872 (Marble Bar Pool Road) DP 215269 & Gaz 07/01/1983 Road 057 Road No. 16873 (Garden Road) DP 215269 & Gaz 15/04/1983 Road 058 Portion of Road No. 16872 (Marble Bar Pool Road) DP 215269 & Gaz 07/01/1983 Road 063 Portion of Road No. 17406 (North Pole Road) DP 216311 Road 064 Portion of Road No. 17406 (North Pole Road) DP 216312 Road 065 Portion of Road No. 17406 (North Pole Road) DP 216313 Road 066 Portion of General Street DP 172372, DP 171725 & CPP 504673 Road 068 Portion of Road No. 00432 CPP 506015, DP 42630, Map SF 50-4 and part SE 50-16 1:250,000 & Gaz 22/06/1894 Road 069 Road No. 00762 CPP 503190, CPP 503163 & Gaz 02/12/1898 Road 071 Road No. 02856 Map 2657 1:100,000, Map SF 50-4 1:250,000, Map 28551:100,000 & Gaz 06/09/1907 Road 073 Portion of Road No. 06443 CPP 503187, DP 221153, DP 221152 & Map 2855 1:100,000 Road 076 Portions of Bohemia, Ironclad and Augusta Streets CPP 504674 & CPP 504675 Road 080 Portions of Exhibition and Ironclad Streets DP 222775 Road 081 Portions of Bohemia, Augusta, Ironclad, Excelsior General, Francis, Hope and Contest Streets and portion of that road running between Bohemia Street and Davis Avenue DP 222776 & CPP 504675 Road 085 Portion of Exhibit Street and Lynas Road CPP 504674 & CPP 504675 Road 087 Road No. 04109 CPP 503187 & Gaz 24/06/1932 Road 088 Road No. 04274 CPP 503194, CPP 503189 & CPP 503177 Road 089 Road No. 06436 CPP 503187 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 090 Road No. 06438 CPP 503176, CPP 503187, Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 091 Road No. 06439 CPP 503187 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 092 Road No. 06440 CPP 503178, CPP 503187 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 093 Road No. 06441 Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 29/04/1921 & 13/07/1979 Road 094 Road No. 06442 CPP 503187 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 095 Road No. 06443 Map SF 50-8 1:250,000, Map 2855 1:100,000, Map SF 51-5 1:250,000 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 096 Road No. 06444 Map SF 50-4 1:250,000, Map SF 50-8 1:250,000, Map 2855 1:100,000 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 097 Road No. 06445 CPP 503178, CPP 503187 & Gaz 29/04/1921 & 06/05/1921 Road 098 Road No. 06446 CPP 503189, Map SF 51-5 1:250,000 & Gaz 29/04/1921 & 11/10/1935 Road 100 Road No. 06448 CPP 503187 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Road 101 Road No. 07047 Map SF 50-4 1:250,000, Map SF 51-1 1:250,000 & Gaz 11/01/1924 Road 103 Road No. 07346 CPP 503164, CPP 503187, DP 238589, DP 238674 & Gaz 29/05/1925 & 05/06/1925 Road 104 Road No. 07362 CPP 503187, CPP 506008 & Gaz 26/06/1925 Road 105 Road No. 07757 Map 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 26/08/1927 Road 106 Road No. 07761 Map 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 26/08/1927 Road 107 Road No. 08625 CPP 503159, Map 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 23/01/1931 Road 108 Road No. 08626 CPP 503189, Map SF 51-1 1:250,000 & Gaz 23/01/1931 & 03/05/1946 Road 109 Road No. 09178 CPP 506006, Map SF 50-8 1:250,000 & Gaz 17/03/1933 Road 110 Road No. 09179 CPP 503189 & Gaz 31/03/1933 Road 113 Road No. 10217 Map SF 51-5 1:250,000 & Gaz 09/05/1958 Road 115 Portion of South and Nichols Streets CPP 504675 Road 116 Portion of General and Bohemia Streets DP 46857 Historical Road 02 Portion of Bohemia Street DP 183133 & DP 216242 Historical Road 03 Portion of Contest Street DP 190868 & DP 180580 Historical Road 04 Portion of Davis Avenue CPP 504674 & DP 168895 Historical Road 05 Portion of General Street DP 22775 & DP 222777 Historical Road 06 Portion of McLeod Close CPP 504674 & DP 168895 Historical Road 07 Portion of Road No. 16873 (Garden Road) DP 215269, DP 216831 & Gaz 15/04/1983 Historical Road 08 Portion of Nichols and South Streets (now Lot 270 on DP 181717) CPP 504674 & DP 172372 Historical Road 09 Portion of Station Street (now Lots 276 and 288 on DP 216242) DP 183133 Historical Road 14 Portion of Davis Avenue (now Lot 290 on DP 91703) CPP 504674, DP 180580 & DP 222776 Historical Road 15 Portion of road running between Bohemia Street and Davis Avenue CPP 504675 Historical Road 22 Portion of Road No. 04109 CPP 503187 & Gaz 24/06/1932 Historical Road 23 Portion of Road No. 06438 CPP 503176, CPP 503187, Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 29/04/1921 Historical Road 24 Portion of Road No. 06440 CPP 503187 & Gaz 18/12/1959 Historical Road 26 Portion of Road No. 07362 CPP 503187, CPP 506008 & Gaz 26/06/1925, 03/07/1925 & 20/11/1925 Historical Road 27 Portion of Road No. 14845 Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 & Gaz 24/08/1973 Historical Road 28 Portion of Marble Bar Road Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 & Map SF 50-8 1:250,000 Historical Road 29 All those roads within the townsite of Bamboo DP 222065 - Portion of Marble Bar Road (being Lot 309 on DP 58954, formerly subject to portion of CT0262500353) DP 58954 - Portion of Marble Bar Road (being Lot 310 on DP 58956, formerly subject to portion of Reserve 17139) DP 58956
5. Railways
The former Port Hedland to Marble Bar Railway constructed pursuant to the Port Hedland - Marble Bar Railway Act 1907 (WA) (repealed) and whose line is generally described in the Schedule to that Act.
6. Compulsory Acquisitions
The land and waters the subject of the following Taking Orders:
Taking Order Description L653793 Lot 555 on DP 61553
7. Public Works
Any other public works as that expression is defined in the Native Title Act and the Titles Validation Act (including the land and waters on which a public work is constructed, established or situated as described in section 251D of the Native Title Act) and to which section 12J of the Titles Validation Act or section 23C(2) of the Native Title Act applies.
SCHEDULE FIVE
AREAS TO WHICH SECTIONS 47A and 47B OF THE NATIVE TITLE ACT APPLY (Paragraph 9)
1. Section 47A
Section 47A of the Native Title Act applies with the effect that any extinguishment by the creation of the following interests (and by the creation of any other prior interests in relation to the area of the following interests) is to be disregarded:
Interest Description / Purpose Reserve 03838 (part) That part of Reserve 03838 (Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants) not formerly subject to Historical Road 06 Reserve 26772 Use and Requirements of the Local Aboriginal People Reserve 30888 Housing (Native Welfare Department) Reserve 39860 Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants GE I134817 (SL 3116/11682) Lease for the purpose of Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants (De Grey Location 102)
2. Section 47B
Section 47B of the Native Title Act applies with the effect that any extinguishment over the following areas by the creation of a prior interest (to the extent that the areas were not covered by an interest described in section 47B(1)(b)(i) or (ii) or subject to a resumption process as described in section 47B(1)(b)(iii) of the Native Title Act when the relevant native title determination application was made) is to be disregarded:
MapInfo ID. Description UCL 024 (part) That part of UCL 024 formerly subject to portion of special leases SL 3116/00469 and SL 3116/02752 UCL 025 (part) That part of UCL 025 not subject to, or formerly subject to, mining leases M 4500434 and M 4500435 UCL 049 Whole of UCL 049, formerly subject to portions of freehold titles GT0001300463, GT0002100446, LG0043000042 and LG0042900120 UCL 050 Whole of UCL 050, formerly subject to portion of Reserve 32403 and portion of freehold title GT0001100406 UCL 263 Whole of UCL 263 (being Lot 333 on DP 188859 [LR 3013/394]), formerly subject to freehold title CT0183700948 and portion of Reserve 32403 UCL 266 Whole of UCL 266 (being Lot 258 on DP 180562 [LR 3013/407]), formerly subject to portion of freehold title GT0001300463 UCL 267 Whole of UCL 267 (being Lot 259 on DP 176130 [LR 3013/408]), formerly subject to portions of freehold titles LG0042900120 and LG0043000042 UCL 268 Whole of UCL 268 (being Lot 260 on DP 176130 [LR 3013/409]), formerly subject to portions of freehold titles LG0042900120 and LG0043000042 UCL 269 Whole of UCL 269 (being Lot 261 on DP 176130 [LR 3013/410]), formerly subject to portions of freehold titles LG0042900120 and GT0002100446 UCL 272 Whole of UCL 272 (being Lot 212 on DP 172283 [LR 3027/981]), formerly subject to Reserve 29191
SCHEDULE SIX
OTHER INTERESTS (Paragraph 10)
The nature and extent of the Other Interests in relation to the Determination Area are as follows:
Land tenure interests registered with the Western Australian Land Information Authority are current as at 6 May 2019. Mining tenements and petroleum interests registered with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety are current as at 31 July 2019. All other interests are current as at the date of the determination.
1. Reserves
(a) The following reserves:
Reserve No. Current / Last Purpose 00377 Water 03838 Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants 04783 Cemetery 04975 Water 04978 Water 08288 Water 08289 Water 09700 De Grey - Peak Hill Stock Route 11280 Water 11293 Water 12051 Water 12052 Water 12053 Water 12054 Water 12055 Water 12056 Water 12057 Water 12062 Water 12094 Water 12297 Protection of the Rabbit Proof Fence No. 1 12745 Water 12750 Water 12751 Water 12752 Water 12755 Water 12756 Water 12757 Water 12758 Water 12759 Water 12760 Water 12761 Water 12762 Water 12769 Water 12772 Water 12773 Water 12804 Water 13619 Timber 13621 Timber 13622 Timber 13623 Timber 13624 Timber 13625 Timber 13626 Timber 13644 Timber 13646 Timber 13647 Timber 13648 Timber 13649 Timber 13650 Timber 13651 Timber 13652 Timber 13653 Timber 13654 Timber 13657 Timber 13658 Timber 13659 Timber 13660 Timber 13661 Timber 13662 Timber 13666 Timber 13668 Timber 13676 Timber 13677 Timber 13678 Timber 13679 Timber 13681 Timber 15159 Warrawagine to Battle Hill Stock Route 15540 Protection of the Rabbit Proof Fence 19795 Water 21650 Excepted from Sale 26772 Use and Requirements of the Local Aboriginal People 30888 Housing (Native Welfare Department) 39860 Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants 40881 Drainage and Parkland 44710 Management of Significant Geological Feature 44711 Management of Significant Geological Feature 50149 Preservation of Geological Features 50150 Preservation of Geological Features
(b)The rights and interests of persons who, from time to time, have the care, control and management of the reserves identified in subclause (a) above;
(c)The rights and interests of persons entitled to access and use the reserves identified in subclause (a) above for the respective purposes for which they are reserved, subject to any statutory limitations upon those rights; and
(d)The rights and interests of persons holding leases over areas of the reserves identified in subclause (a) above.
2. Pastoral Leases
The following pastoral leases and the rights and interests of the holders from time to time of those pastoral leases:
Lease No. Description PL N049420 (formerly 398/467) Mt Divide Station PL N049436 (formerly 3114/1169) Warrawagine Station PL N049839 (formerly 3114/1188) Kangan Station PL N049843 (formerly 3114/0860) Pippingarra Station PL N049879 (formerly 3114/0979) Wandanya PL N049987 (formerly 3114/1244) Eginbah Station PL N050012 (formerly 3114/1197) Indee Station PL N050027 (formerly 3114/1142) De Grey Station PL N050199 (formerly 3114/1215) Yarrie Station PL N050324 (formerly 3114/0446) Pardoo Station PL N050365 (formerly 3114/1266) Wallareenya Station PL N050429 (formerly 3114/0745) Corunna Downs PL N050453 (formerly 398/643) Panorama Station PL N050454 (formerly 398/623) Panorama Station PL N050507 (formerly 3114/1233) Muccan Station
3. Leases
The following lease and the rights and interests of the holders from time to time of that lease:
Lease No. Purpose GE I134817 (SL 3116/11682) Use and Benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants
4. Easements
The following easement and the rights and interests of the holders from time to time of that easement:
Easement No. Purpose L428602 Access to, and construction, repair, maintenance, replacement and use of a seismic monitoring station
5. Roads
The following roads and the rights and interests of the persons having the care, control and management of those roads from time to time:
MapInfo ID. Description Shown on Road 007 Portion of widening of Road No. 06443 (Marble Bar Road) (Lots 153 and 182) DP 195179 Road 009 Portion of widening of Road No. 06443 (Marble Bar Road) (Lots 152, 154, 155, 156 and 181) DP 221151 Road 010 Portion of widening of Road No. 06443 (Marble Bar Road) (Lots 157 and 158) DP 221152 Road 011 Portion of widening of Road No. 06443 (Marble Bar Road) (Lots 159, 160 and 161) and portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lots 160 and 180) DP 221153 Road 012 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 162) DP 221154 Road 013 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 163) DP 221155 Road 014 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 164) DP 221156 Road 015 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 165) DP 221157 Road 016 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 166) DP 221158 Road 017 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 167) DP 221159 Road 018 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lots 168 and 169) DP 221160 Road 019 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 170) DP 221161 Road 020 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 171) DP 221162 Road 021 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lots 172 and 173) DP 221163 Road 022 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 174) DP 221164 Road 023 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lots 175 and 176) DP 221165 Road 024 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lot 177) DP 221166 Road 025 Portion of Ripon Hills Road (Lots 178 and 179) DP 221167 Road 118 Portion of Road No. 04109 Map SF 51-1 1:250,000 & Map SF 50-4 1:250,000 - Portion of Marble Bar Road (Lot 306) DP 58955 - Portion of Marble Bar Road (Lot 307) DP 58935 - Portion of Marble Bar Road (Lot 308) DP 58952
6. Mining Tenements
(a)The following mining tenements granted under the Mining Act 1904 (WA) (repealed) and / or the Mining Act 1978 (WA) and the rights and interests of the holders from time to time of those mining tenements:
(i) Mining Leases
Tenement ID Tenement ID Tenement ID M 4500014 M 4500078 M 4500258 M 4500016 M 4500107 M 4500284 M 4500057 M 4500202 M 4500296 M 4500076 M 4500235 M 4500297 M 4500302 M 4500573 M 4501022 M 4500328 M 4500587 M 4501023 M 4500329 M 4500588 M 4501095 M 4500333 M 4500592 M 4501096 M 4500354 M 4500594 M 4501115 M 4500368 M 4500600 M 4501134 M 4500375 M 4500601 M 4501160 M 4500376 M 4500602 M 4501161 M 4500377 M 4500606 M 4501162 M 4500385 M 4500607 M 4501163 M 4500395 M 4500618 M 4501164 M 4500407 M 4500637 M 4501179 M 4500411 M 4500638 M 4501189 M 4500429 M 4500639 M 4501218 M 4500430 M 4500640 M 4501226 M 4500431 M 4500641 M 4501230 M 4500432 M 4500642 M 4501231 M 4500433 M 4500648 M 4501241 M 4500434 M 4500649 M 4501244 M 4500435 M 4500650 M 4501254 M 4500435A M 4500651 M 4501255 M 4500438 M 4500653 M 4501256 M 4500453 M 4500655 M 4501260 M 4500459 M 4500665 M 4501266 M 4500478 M 4500680 M 4600092 M 4500480 M 4500744 M 4600093 M 4500481 M 4500838 M 4600094 M 4500490 M 4500873 M 4600108 M 4500494 M 4500874 M 4600137 M 4500511 M 4501001 M 4600150 M 4500514 M 4501004 M 4600161 M 4500515 M 4501015 M 4600162 M 4500517 M 4501016 M 4600383 M 4500538 M 4501017 M 4600384 M 4500554 M 4501018 M 4500558 M 4501019 (ii) Miscellaneous Licences
Tenement ID Tenement ID Tenement ID L 4500004 L 4500188 L 4500401 L 4500012 L 4500189 L 4500402 L 4500037 L 4500204 L 4500403 L 4500060 L 4500207 L 4500404 L 4500072 L 4500257 L 4500411 L 4500074 L 4500284 L 4500413 L 4500086 L 4500285 L 4500414 L 4500101 L 4500286 L 4500416 L 4500105 L 4500287 L 4500417 L 4500110 L 4500292 L 4500425 L 4500127 L 4500294 L 4500430 L 4500140 L 4500310 L 4500448 L 4500141 L 4500320 L 4500449 L 4500145 L 4500322 L 4500450 L 4500146 L 4500323 L 4500454 L 4500148 L 4500325 L 4500473 L 4500160 L 4500329 L 4500477 L 4500164 L 4500331 L 4500480 L 4500166 L 4500351 L 4500481 L 4500170 L 4500361 L 4500485 L 4500173 L 4500364 L 4500495 L 4500179 L 4500396 L 4600029 L 4500185 L 4500397 L 4500186 L 4500400 (iii) General Purpose Leases
Tenement ID Tenement ID Tenement ID G 4500021 G 4500279 G 4500333 G 4500025 G 4500280 G 4500334 G 4500037 G 4500281 G 4500335 G 4500038 G 4500282 G 4500336 G 4500039 G 4500283 G 4600004 G 4500040 G 4500284 G 4600005 G 4500276 G 4500332 (iv) Exploration Licences
Tenement ID Tenement ID Tenement ID E 4501072 E 4503619 E 4504227 E 4502032 E 4503641 E 4504236 E 4502201 E 4503648 E 4504309 E 4502241 E 4503655 E 4504320 E 4502287 E 4503662 E 4504328 E 4502363 E 4503674 E 4504356 E 4502364 E 4503675 E 4504368 E 4502470 E 4503679 E 4504386 E 4502510 E 4503705 E 4504433 E 4502533 E 4503717 E 4504445 E 4502535 E 4503724 E 4504450 E 4502612 E 4503725 E 4504462 E 4502641 E 4503728 E 4504476 E 4502697 E 4503856 E 4504477 E 4502698 E 4503857 E 4504480 E 4502763 E 4503858 E 4504498 E 4502983 E 4503940 E 4504523 E 4502985 E 4503952 E 4504545 E 4502986 E 4503956 E 4504553 E 4502987 E 4504024 E 4504555 E 4503084 E 4504025 E 4504560 E 4503217 E 4504060 E 4504572 E 4503298 E 4504065 E 4504578 E 4503332 E 4504069 E 4504580 E 4503381 E 4504070 E 4504581 E 4503438 E 4504116 E 4504582 E 4503473 E 4504118 E 4504592 E 4503474 E 4504137 E 4504598 E 4503511 E 4504169 E 4504599 E 4503545 E 4504174 E 4504604 E 4503571 E 4504175 E 4504605 E 4503586 E 4504178 E 4504606 E 4503601 E 4504194 E 4504610 E 4503615 E 4504198 E 4504611 E 4504615 E 4504766 E 4504939 E 4504616 E 4504772 E 4504950 E 4504620 E 4504774 E 4504952 E 4504624 E 4504778 E 4504954 E 4504630 E 4504779 E 4504958 E 4504631 E 4504780 E 4504959 E 4504633 E 4504781 E 4504971 E 4504637 E 4504787 E 4504972 E 4504640 E 4504788 E 4504973 E 4504641 E 4504790 E 4504976 E 4504643 E 4504796 E 4504982 E 4504651 E 4504800 E 4504987 E 4504666 E 4504801 E 4504988 E 4504669 E 4504803 E 4504993 E 4504670 E 4504806 E 4504996 E 4504675 E 4504811 E 4504999 E 4504684 E 4504814 E 4505004 E 4504689 E 4504843 E 4505005 E 4504690 E 4504850 E 4505006 E 4504691 E 4504853 E 4505017 E 4504693 E 4504854 E 4505020 E 4504700 E 4504858 E 4505022 E 4504703 E 4504873 E 4505023 E 4504714 E 4504874 E 4505024 E 4504718 E 4504875 E 4505031 E 4504720 E 4504877 E 4505032 E 4504721 E 4504879 E 4505033 E 4504724 E 4504880 E 4505034 E 4504727 E 4504888 E 4505035 E 4504732 E 4504900 E 4505044 E 4504735 E 4504909 E 4505045 E 4504741 E 4504914 E 4505053 E 4504746 E 4504915 E 4505075 E 4504751 E 4504920 E 4505076 E 4504754 E 4504921 E 4505088 E 4504759 E 4504922 E 4505098 E 4504764 E 4504923 E 4505100 E 4505101 E 4505350 E 4601072 E 4505113 E 4505354 E 4601074 E 4505114 E 4600513 E 4601081 E 4505172 E 4600525 E 4601085 E 4505179 E 4600535 E 4601099 E 4505180 E 4600571 E 4601116 E 4505246 E 4600649 E 4601117 E 4505282 E 4600739 E 4601121 E 4505298 E 4600835 (v) Prospecting Licences
Tenement ID Tenement ID Tenement ID P 4502783 P 4502951 P 4502995 P 4502818 P 4502952 P 4502996 P 4502819 P 4502954 P 4502997 P 4502820 P 4502955 P 4502998 P 4502873 P 4502956 P 4503000 P 4502874 P 4502957 P 4503009 P 4502875 P 4502958 P 4503010 P 4502876 P 4502961 P 4503029 P 4502883 P 4502962 P 4503035 P 4502884 P 4502963 P 4503037 P 4502885 P 4502969 P 4503039 P 4502886 P 4502970 P 4503040 P 4502887 P 4502978 P 4503041 P 4502893 P 4502985 P 4503042 P 4502910 P 4502987 P 4503058 P 4502911 P 4502989 P 4503059 P 4502946 P 4502990 P 4503066 P 4502947 P 4502991 P 4503071 P 4502948 P 4502992 P 4503072 P 4502949 P 4502993 P 4601870 P 4502950 P 4502994 P 4601871
(vi) Retention Licences
Tenement ID R 4500005 R 4500006
(b)The agreement as amended and ratified by the Iron Ore (Mount Goldsworthy) Agreement Act 1964 (WA) and rights and interests comprised in, conferred under or in accordance with, or pursuant to that agreement, including the following mining tenements:
Tenement ID Tenement Type AML7000249 Mineral Lease
(c)The agreement as amended and ratified by the Iron Ore (Goldsworthy - Nimingarra) Agreement Act 1972 (WA) and rights and interests comprised in, conferred under or in accordance with, or pursuant to that agreement, including the following mining tenements:
Tenement ID Tenement Type AML7000251 Mineral Lease AM 7000263 Mineral Lease
7. Petroleum interests
The following petroleum interests granted under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (WA) and the Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 (WA) and the rights and interests of the holders from time to time of those interests:
Tenement ID Tenement Type PL 60 Pipeline Licence (Telfer Pipeline)
8. Access to Mining and Petroleum Areas
(a)Without limiting the operation of any other clause in Schedule Six, but subject to clause 8(b) below, the rights of the holders from time to time of the mining tenements or petroleum interests, including those listed in clauses 6 and 7 of this Schedule Six, to use (including by servants, agents and contractors) such portions of roads and tracks in the Determination Area (existing as at the date of this determination) as are necessary to have access to the area the subject of the mining tenement or petroleum interest for the purpose of exercising the rights granted by that tenement or interest.
(b)Nothing in clause 8(a) above allows any upgrade, extension, widening or other improvement to the road or track other than work done to maintain it in reasonable repair and in order to leave it in substantially the same condition as it was prior to its use pursuant to clause 8(a).
(c)Nothing in this Schedule Six will limit the rights of the holders from time to time of mining tenements or petroleum interests, including those referred to in clauses 6 and 7 of this Schedule Six, including, without limitation, any right to exclude members of the public from entering onto the land and waters the subject of any mining tenement or petroleum interest.
9. Telstra Corporation Limited
The rights and interests of Telstra Corporation Limited (ACN 051 775 556):
(a)as the owner or operator of telecommunications facilities within the Determination Area;
(b)created pursuant to the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 (Cth), the Telecommunications Act 1975 (Cth), the Australian Telecommunications Corporation Act 1989 (Cth), the Telecommunications Act 1991 (Cth) and the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth), including rights:
(i)to inspect land;
(ii)to install, occupy and operate telecommunications facilities; and
(iii)to alter, remove, replace, maintain, repair and ensure the proper functioning of its telecommunications facilities;
(c)for its employees, agents or contractors to access its telecommunications facilities in and in the vicinity of the Determination Area in the performance of their duties; and
(d)under any lease, licence, permit, access agreement or easement relating to its telecommunications facilities in the Determination Area.
10. Other
The following rights and interests in the Determination Area:
(a)Rights and interests, including licences and permits, granted by the Crown in right of the State or of the Commonwealth pursuant to statute or otherwise in the exercise of its executive power and any regulations made pursuant to such statutes;
(b)Rights and interests held by reason of the force and operation of the laws of the State or of the Commonwealth including but not limited to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (WA);
(c)Rights and interests of members of the public arising under the common law, including but not limited to:
(i)the public right to fish;
(ii)the public right to navigate; and
(iii)the right of any person to use and enjoy any roads in the Determination Area (subject to the laws of the State) over which, as at the date of this determination, members of the public have a right of access under the common law;
(d) The right to access the Determination Area by:
(i)an employee, agent or instrumentality of the State;
(ii)an employee, agent or instrumentality of the Commonwealth;
(iii)an employee, agent or instrumentality of any local government authority, as required in the performance of his or her statutory or common law duty where such access would be permitted to private land;
(e)So far as confirmed pursuant to section 212(2) of the Native Title Act and section 14 of the Titles Validation Act as at the date of this determination, any existing public access to and enjoyment of:
(i) waterways;
(ii) beds and banks or foreshores of waterways;
(iii) coastal waters;
(iv) beaches;
(v) stock routes; and
(vi) areas that were public places at the end of 31 December 1993; and
(f) Any other:
(i)legal or equitable estate or interest in the land or waters of the Determination Area; or
(ii)right (including a right under an option and a right of redemption), charge, power or privilege over, or in connection with:
(A) the land or waters of the Determination Area; or
(B)an estate or interest in the land or waters of the Determination Area; or
(iii)restriction on the use of the land or waters of the Determination Area, whether or not annexed to other land or waters.
SCHEDULE SEVEN
NYAMAL PEOPLE (Paragraph 3)
The Nyamal People are those persons who:
(a)are descended from Ngurrpangu @ Sally, Yirlkurani @ William Ball, Jarlapangu @ Billy Ball, Minparingu @ Daisy McColl, Wijiringu @ Joey, Ngamalykarinya @ Eginbah Murphy, Kutjikurtapa @ Fred Mitchell, Pularmu @ Albert, Martuwataranu @ Maryanne, Minjikarli @ Jimmy Woodman, Pularjiyi, Putangaja, Mikarnipirti, Mayinkapirti, Walykanpangu, Kujari @ Jenkins, Ngamalangu @ Nellie, Kalpimarra, Yirapinya, Warnangykuranya @ Tommy, Yatawaranu @ Yarriwawurru @ Dinah, Goondy @ Goondanee, Pilunjuji, Nyantipunu, Paddy Bung Bong, Amy Mirabung, Old Maybai, Mary (mother of Stella Ball), Minnie (mother of Allen Mitchell), Punkarli (mother of Alice Mitchell), Winturu, Susan Pontroy, Martin Pontroy or Jack Pontroy or are adopted by such biological descendants in accordance with the traditional laws acknowledged and the traditional customs observed by the Nyamal People; and
(b)identify themselves as Nyamal under traditional law and custom and are so identified by other Nyamal People as Nyamal.
Note: Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
REEVES J:
INTRODUCTION
In this proceeding, the Nyamal People have sought to have the Court make, what is commonly referred to as, a consent determination of native title under the apposite provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the NTA). They seek to have that determination made on the terms of an agreement they have reached with the various parties to the proceedings, including the State of Western Australia. The area of land and waters with respect to which the determination is sought is in the central Pilbara region in the north of Western Australia.
For the reasons that follow, I propose to make the determination that they have sought.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The procedural history to this proceeding is lengthy and complex. The following is a brief summary.
The present Nyamal Application results from the combination of nine separate native title determination applications made by the Nyamal People. They were:
(a)Nyamal #1 (WC 1995/031, WAD 6028/1998) lodged on 7 August 1995;
(b)Nyamal #2 (WC 1996/056, WAD 6093/1998) lodged on 24 May 1996;
(c)Nyamal #3 (WC 1996/112, WAD 6137/1998) lodged on 9 December 1996;
(d)Nyamal #4 (WC 1996/115, WAD 6139/1998) lodged on 9 December 1996;
(e)Nyamal #5 (WC 1996/117, WAD 6141/1998) lodged on 30 December 1996;
(f)Nyamal #6 (WC 1997/008, WAD 6145/1998) lodged on 3 February 1997;
(g)Nyamal #7 (WC 1997/034, WAD 6165/1998) lodged on 21 May 1997;
(h)Nyamal #8 (WC 1997/042, WAD 6172/1998) lodged on 9 June 1997; and
(i)Nyamal #9 (WC 1997/045, WAD 6174/1998) lodged on 26 June 1997.
All of these applications were lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) pursuant to s 61 of the NTA as it stood (the old Act) prior to the commencement of the Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth) (the Amendment Act). They were all subsequently notified by the Native Title Registrar (Registrar) pursuant to s 66 of the old Act. Under the transitional provisions of the Amendment Act, all nine applications were taken to have been made to the Federal Court and any notifications given by the Registrar pursuant to s 66 of the old Act were taken to be for that application and the same people were to be parties (see the table at Schedule 5, Part 3, Item 6 of the Amendment Act).
Nyamal applications #1 – #8 were, in effect, small polygon claims within (or in the case of the Nyamal #8 application, outside) of the boundary of the present Nyamal Application. The boundary of the Nyamal #9 application was larger than, but closely resembled, the boundary of the present Nyamal Application and was lodged over the entire area of land and waters that the Nyamal People claimed were their traditional lands.
Accordingly, by order made on 19 March 1999, the Nyamal #1 application was amended so that it included Nyamal applications #2 – #9. It was subsequently entered on the Register of Native Title Claims on 3 June 1999.
On 25 May 2006, leave was granted to amend the application to reduce the boundary of the claim area so that certain overlaps with the Ngarla (WAD 6185 of 1998), the Nyiyaparli (WAD 6280 of 1998), the Kariyarra (WAD 6196 of 1998), the Nyangumarta (WAD 6281 of 1998) and the Palyku Application (WAD 6287 of 1998) native title determination applications were either removed entirely or reduced.
Over the years since 2006, a number of further amendments have been made to the application, including changes to the constitution of the Nyamal Applicant and the claim group description.
By order of the Federal Court dated 15 January 2019, the Nyamal Application was given a new electronic court file proceeding number WAD 20 of 2019.
In respect of the balance of the land and waters the subject of the Nyamal Application, that is those areas not within the Nyamal Part A determination area or the Nyamal #10 determination area, no determination is to be made at present. This area comprises that portion of the Nyamal Application which is geographically overlapped by native title determination applications WAD 23 of 2019 (Palyku Application), WAD 289 of 2018 (Nyamal Overlap Application) and WAD 483 of 2018 (Palyku #2 Application). These overlaps are being progressed as part of the Nyamal Palyku Proceeding (WAD 392 of 2018).
Finally, as required by s 87A(3) of the NTA, on 4 September 2019, Judicial Registrar McGregor, acting on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Court, gave notice to the other parties to the Nyamal #10 Application that the consent determination minute had been filed with the Court. On the same date, notice was formally given to the lawyers acting for the applicant in the Nyamal Application to the effect that, unless any objections to the Court making a determination in the terms of the consent determination minute were received by 13 September 2019, the Court may infer the Nyamal Applicant did not have any objections to that course. No such objections were received.
THE PARTIES REACH AGREEMENT
In early 2019, the parties in the Nyamal Application informed the Court that they had reached an agreement on the terms of a proposed determination of native title under s 87A of the NTA. To give effect to that agreement a minute of the terms of the proposed determination (the consent determination minute) and joint submissions of the Nyamal Applicant and the State were filed with the Court. The parties have now requested the Court make a determination of native title in accordance with the terms of that consent determination minute.
THE DETERMINATION AREA
The area the subject of the proposed consent determination comprises land and waters, which, as already mentioned above, is in the central Pilbara region in the north of Western Australia (the Determination Area). The majority of that area is covered by pastoral leases, mining tenements, roads and reserves.
THE SEVEN CONDITIONS IN SECTION 87A HAVE BEEN MET
The power of the Court to give effect to the agreement reflected in the consent determination minute is founded on s 87A of the NTA. That section sets out the conditions which must be met before the Court may make an agreed determination of native title, where that agreement relates to a part of the claim area covered by an application (s 87A(1)(b)). In this matter, s 87A sets seven such conditions, some of which contain multiple requirements.
The first condition is that the notice period under s 66 of the NTA must have ended (s 87A(1)(b)). As is already mentioned above (at [5]), the NNTT’s notification in the mid to late 1990s of the nine Nyamal applications which it incorporates was taken to have applied to this application. That condition has therefore been met.
The second condition has already been alluded to above. It is that the agreement of the parties must relate to an area which is included in the area covered by the application (s 87A(1)(b)). As has also already been mentioned above, in this instance, the Determination Area relates to part of the Nyamal Application claim area. Accordingly, this condition has also been met.
The third condition is that all of the parties described in s 87A(1)(c), who were parties to the proceeding at the time the agreement was made, must be parties to the agreement. In this matter, those parties are:
(a)the Nyamal Applicant;
(b)the State of Western Australia;
(c)the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (as Intervener);
(d)the following pastoralists and other leaseholders:
(a)Balfour Downs Pastoral Coy Pty Ltd;
(b)Anthony B Bettini, David F Bettini, Ethel M Bettini, John J Bettini, Mark J Bettini, Mary E Bettini and Paul D Bettini;
(c)Bovidae Pty Ltd;
(d)Colin Brierly;
(e)Grant William Robert Brooks and Wendy Mcwhirter Brooks;
(f)Barkley Marshall Day, Joan Elizabeth Day, Richard Ernest Day and Zane Bradley Day;
(g)Greenleigh Pty Ltd;
(h)Hillside Station (WA) Pty Ltd;
(i)Keydrive Pty Ltd;
(j)Pardoo Beef Corporation Pty Ltd;
(k)Anne Catherine Paull;
(l)Startline Nominees Pty Ltd;
(m)Vanguard Enterprises Pty Ltd; and
(n)Pinga Pty Ltd.
(e)the following mining, exploration and related industry parties:
(a)BHP Direct Reduced Iron Pty Ltd;
(b)Mt Goldsworthy Joint Venturers; and
(c)Mt Newman Joint Venturers.
Having examined the consent determination minute, I am satisfied that each of the above parties is a party to the agreement. I am therefore satisfied that the third condition in s 87A has been met.
There is, however, one matter concerning this condition that should be recorded. Parkwood Enterprises Pty Ltd (Parkwood) is a respondent party to the Nyamal Application. As outlined in Ms Warren’s affidavit sworn on 19 August 2019, she confirmed with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety that the mining lease held by Parkwood fell wholly within the portion of the Nyamal Application which is overlapped by the Palyku #2 Application, that being the portion which is not proceeding to consent determination at this stage. Accordingly, Parkwood did not sign the agreement.
The fourth condition is that “the terms of the proposed determination are in writing and signed by or on behalf of each of [the] parties” (s 87A(1)(d)). This condition has been met because, as is already mentioned above, the consent determination minute is in writing and it is apparent from the copy of that minute filed with the Court that each of the parties described above has signed that minute themselves, or someone has signed it on their behalf.
The fifth condition concerns the provisions of ss 87A(3) and (8). The former requires notice of the filing of a copy of the consent determination minute to be given to “the other parties to the proceeding”. That requirement is linked to the latter provision, which provides that “the Court must take into account any objections made by the other parties to the proceedings”. As is recorded in the procedural history of the Nyamal Application above (at [12]), the notice required by the former provision has been given. I infer from the lack of response to that notice that condition five has been met.
The sixth condition is that the Court must be satisfied that an order in the terms of the consent determination minute, or an order consistent with those terms, would be within the power of the Court (s 87A(4)(a)). For present purposes, and subject to the observations I have made about s 56 below (at [36]), it will be within the power of the Court to make a determination in the terms of the consent determination minute if that minute complies with s 94A of the NTA, if the rights and interests described in it are recognisable by the common law of Australia and if there is no other determination in existence over the Determination Area.
Addressing these matters in reverse order, first, I am satisfied on the evidence before me that there is no other determination of native title in existence over any part of the Determination Area. Secondly, having examined the native title rights and interests of the Nyamal People described in the consent determination minute, I am satisfied that they are recognisable by the common law of Australia. As for s 94A of the NTA, it requires the Court, when making a determination of native title, to set out the details of the matters mentioned in s 225. That section provides:
A determination of native title is a determination whether or not native title exists in relation to a particular area (the determination area) of land or waters and, if it does exist, a determination of:
(a)who the persons, or each group of persons, holding the common or group rights comprising the native title are; and
(b)the nature and extent of the native title rights and interests in relation to the determination area; and
(c)the nature and extent of any other interests in relation to the determination area; and
(d)the relationship between the rights and interests in paragraphs (b) and (c) (taking into account the effect of this Act); and
(e)to the extent that the land or waters in the determination area are not covered by a non‑exclusive agricultural lease or a non‑exclusive pastoral lease—whether the native title rights and interests confer possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of that land or waters on the native title holders to the exclusion of all others.
Section 225(a) above requires consideration of an issue raised in the joint submissions which concerns the way in which the Nyamal native title holders have been described in the consent determination minute.
Schedule A of the Form 1 in the Nyamal Application provides that the application is brought on behalf of: (a) the descendants of: Ngurrpangu / Sally; Yirlkurani / William Ball; Pularji and Minparingu / Daisy; Walykunpangu; Mujayakirrirri; Mikarnipirti; Kuijikurtapa / Fred Mitchell; Putangaja; Jarlapangu / Billy Ball; Wijiringu; Yirapinya; Ngamalykarinya; Wanarngykuranya / Tommy; and (b) the following incorporated members: Reggie Malana; and Colin Malana.
Despite the claim group description differences in the Nyamal Application and the Nyamal #10 Application, the Nyamal and Nyamal #10 Applicants and the State have been proceeding as though those applications were made on behalf of the same persons, being the Nyamal people described in the Nyamal Application.
The parties ultimately settled on the description of native title holders in Schedule Seven of the minute of proposed consent determination, having satisfied themselves that the description reflects the position as described in the connection materials and captures all of the known native title holders.
According to the affidavit of Mr John Edwards filed in support of this application and the joint submissions, the Nyamal Application consent determination was approved at a meeting of the Nyamal People held on 9 August 2019. That description of the Nyamal native title holders is included in the consent determination minute (Paragraph 3 and Schedule Seven).
While this description does not precisely correspond to the description of the native title claim group set out in the original combined Nyamal Application, the Nyamal Applicant and the State contended in the joint submissions that the Court may make a determination in that form provided that it is supported by the evidence before it, relying on Billy Patch and Others on behalf of the Birriliburu People v State of Western Australia [2008] FCA 944 at [18] and Sharpe v State of Western Australia [2013] FCA 599 at [18]. I agree and, having regard to the matters set out above, I am satisfied it is appropriate to use this description of the Nyamal native title holders in this determination.
As for ss 225(b) to (e) above, having perused Attachment A to the consent determination minute, particularly Paragraphs 4 to 11, I am satisfied that this determination sets out the matters mentioned in those subsections in compliance with s 94A.
Having regard to all these matters, I am therefore satisfied that this sixth condition has been met.
The seventh and final condition concerns the operation of s 87A(4)(b) of the NTA. That section requires the Court to be satisfied that it is appropriate to make a determination in terms of the consent determination minute. In Nelson v Northern Territory (2010) 190 FCR 344; [2010] FCA 1343 (Nelson) (at [5]–[13]), I canvassed the authorities that identified the factors that the Court will routinely have regard to in determining this question of “appropriateness” under s 87. For the reasons canvassed in Bigambul Part A (Doctor on behalf of the Bigambul People v State of Queensland [2016] FCA 1447) (at [14]), the same factors apply equally to s 87A. It is not necessary for me to repeat all those observations here. It will suffice to set out the concluding summary as follows (Nelson at [14]):
It follows from all these considerations that the central issue in an application for a consent determination under s 87 is whether there exists a free and informed agreement between the parties. In this respect, the process followed by the State party respondent, particularly how it goes about assessing the underlying evidence as to the existence of native title, is critical. Other critical factors, all directed to the processes that lead to the agreement and what was agreed, that have been previously identified by the Court include: whether the parties have independent and competent legal representation ...; whether the terms of the proposed order are unambiguous and clear …; and whether the agreement has been preceded by a mediation process …
In considering whether this condition has been met, I have been assisted by the joint submissions filed by the Nyamal Applicant and the State. Having regard to those submissions, I am satisfied that there exists a free and informed agreement between the parties. In reaching this conclusion, I have had particular regard to the fact that all parties have had the advantage of competent legal representation and that this proceeding has been supervised under intensive case management by a Registrar of the Court. Finally, I am satisfied that the terms of the consent determination minute are unambiguous and clear. I am therefore satisfied that this seventh condition has been met.
Notwithstanding this conclusion, and despite the lack of any necessity to do so (see Nelson at [12]–[13]), it is appropriate to set out the following excerpt from the joint submissions which summarises the Nyamal traditional laws and customs and their connection to their traditional country comprising the Determination Area. This summary goes some way to explaining why the parties came to the agreement that this determination of the Nyamal People’s native title should be made:
45.The Nyamal People are unique socio-territorial language group located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They comprise a single society who identify as Nyamal, who speak a common Nyamal language, and who acknowledge and observe the same body of traditional laws and customs relating to rights and interests in land and waters. While many of those laws and customs are similar to those of other Pilbara Aboriginal people, they constitute a distinct body of Nyamal laws and customs.
46.The ethnographic materials provide evidence for the existence of a distinct group of Aboriginal people called Nyamal who spoke a particular language and occupied the Nyamal Determination Area since the late the late 19th century, commencing with the reports of pioneer pastoralists and other amateur observers. These included: McKenzie Grant and C Harper, who held De Grey Station (1880 – 1886); E.M. Curr a pastoralist and writer who collated survey data from around the continent by correspondence with settlers, police officers and colonial officials (1886); John Withnell, one of the original pastoral settlers of the north-west who had an interest in Aboriginal customs (1901); Emile Clement, a self-described ‘explorer’ who undertook research with Aboriginal people (1903); John F Connelly, a prospector and explorer who upon retirement travelled around Australia writing articles of ethnographic interest (1932); and Daisy Bates, who was employed by the Western Australia government and collected ethnographic data on sites, languages and tribal distribution and who referred to the Nyamal on a number of occasions in her works (1904 – 1912).
47.The Nyamal were later recorded by ethnographers, anthropologists and linguists who conducted work in the region. The anthropologist AR Radcliffe-Brown who, whilst he did not visit the Nyamal, nevertheless located the group between the Shaw and De Grey Rivers (1911-1931). The anthropologist Norman Tindale recorded Nyamal country in a similar location (1940), as did anthropologist John Wilson (1961) and linguist Carol von Brandenstein (1972).
48.The Nyamal system of traditional laws and customs connects the Nyamal People to their country and the traditional spiritual beliefs of the Nyamal People are firmly embedded within the physical landscape. The Nyamal People believe that Nyamal language was mythologically inscribed on the country by ancestral beings during the Kapukarri (the dreamtime or dreaming). It was during the Kapukarri that the ancestral beings created the current physical features of the Nyamal Determination Areas, put the Nyamal People and language in the land and also laid down the laws to govern the Nyamal People and how they behave. It is these laws and customs that connect the Nyamal People to their country. The Nyamal People believe that dreaming spirits continue to inhabit the Nyamal Determination Area, respond to Nyamal language and have a particular relationship with the Nyamal People.
49.The Nyamal People’s contemporary land tenure system is traditionally based, albeit with some modifications due to the effects of settlement. It appears to be derived from an earlier estate based system which was typical of groups in the Pilbara at the time of sovereignty with the estates having expanded or merged over time and are now referred to as family areas or ‘runs’.
50.Contemporary rights in Nyamal country are held by subgroups of families of the Nyamal People who have the right to speak in relation to particular runs within the Nyamal Determination Area. Nyamal People describe the situation thus:
We all Nyamal, altogether, but got own areas inside which we own – this family here, that family there. We know where the families belong ...
Inside Nyamal country there are different special areas that different family groups speak for. These are usually around the yinta of those people
51.Inheritance of a family group area or run is reckoned by descent from Nyamal forebears associated with the area. Birthplace, knowledge or long-term residence in Nyamal country alone (without the requisite element of descent from Nyamal forebear) does not provide for rights and interest in land.
52.Family group areas or runs are centred around yinta, which are significant sites often associated with spirits inherent in the land and are most commonly, but not only, permanent pools in the rivers. Nyamal People describe yinta as follows:
Yinta pool, belong to that bloke, like where he come from. People belong to yinta from before, belong where water is.
A yinta is a special place, like a hill or a pool or a creek that belongs to a family. Yinta which are creeks or pools are associated with the snake katakatarra ...
Yinta is how Aboriginal people organised who belongs where. When you visit someone you ask ‘where the yinta here? It’s asking whose country this is. Where the Ngayarta [people] come from or which people belong here.
53.In most cases family group areas or runs, as well as their yinta, are associated with representative elders who are considered to have the right to speak for the area.
…
54.The Nyamal People have maintained their connection the Nyamal Determination Area since the assertion of sovereignty. It is evident from the archaeological and historical record that Aboriginal people have occupied and used the resources of the land in the Nyamal Determination Area since well before first contact.
55.Pastoral settlement in the region of the Nyamal Determination Area began around 1880. The towns of Nullagine, Marble Bar and various other mining centres were established in the area following the gold rushes of the 1880s. Whilst the Nyamal People suffered demographical losses as a result of conflict with settlers, depletion of the natural resources by the encroachment of the pastoral and mining industries and the introduction of new diseases, Nyamal People continued to occupy Nyamal country and progressively settled in mining areas or were incorporated into the pastoral industry as station workers or dependants of station workers living in and around the Nyamal Determination Area.
56.Through this work and residence on stations, townships or mining centres in or near the Determination Area, Nyamal People were able to continue to visit, hunt and gather on their country and transmit knowledge about the land to their children, thereby maintaining a continued connection to their land.
57.This relatively stable situation began to alter with the Aboriginal Pastoral Workers Strike in 1946. Many Nyamal and other Aboriginal people left pastoral station employment in this period and, instead, supported themselves collectively through small scale mining (much of which took place on Nyamal country). The success of this venture and numbers of people involved varied over the next 15 years. In 1959 – 1960 there was a significant split in the strike movement and many Nyamal People re-established a community at Yandeyarra.
58.Today, whilst some Nyamal People still live permanently in the Nyamal Determination Area at Marble Bar, a majority of Nyamal People now reside in Port Hedland whilst some remain at Yandeyarra. However, those Nyamal People who reside outside the Nyamal Determination Area continue to camp, fish, hunt and gather on their country on weekends and during holidays.
59.Accordingly, the Nyamal People continue to have a rich knowledge of the natural environment and particular sites in the Nyamal Determination Area (including mythological sites, dangerous, restricted, ceremonial, totemic and historical sites). Native game and plant foods continue to be important to Nyamal People and Nyamal People actively engage in hunting and gathering techniques and use traditional natural resources in accordance with a system of traditional laws and customs. The Nyamal People are also mindful of their responsibility to ensure that such knowledge is passed down to younger generations.
THE PRESCRIBED BODY CORPORATE
Pursuant to s 56(2) of the NTA, the Nyamal Applicant has nominated the Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation (ICN: 8770) (the Corporation) as the prescribed body corporate to hold the native title of the claim group in trust following the making of this determination. That nomination is in writing and the Corporation has given its consent to it. I am therefore satisfied that the relevant requirements of the NTA and the Native Title (Prescribed Bodies Corporate) Regulations 1999 (Cth) have been met in this respect.
CONCLUSIONS
For these reasons, I consider the seven conditions contained in s 87A of the NTA have been met and it is therefore appropriate to make a determination of native title in accordance with the terms of the consent determination minute.
One of the objects of the NTA is to resolve native title claims by negotiation and agreement. The negotiations and agreement that have led to this determination of native title clearly serve to advance that object.
The parties are to be congratulated for the years of effort and persistence that have been required to pursue the negotiations to their finality.
The legal representatives of all the parties are also to be congratulated for the support and assistance they have provided to their clients, over those years, to achieve this outcome.
In conclusion, it is worth making this observation: this determination of native title does not create native title in the Determination Area. Instead, it marks the recognition, by the Australian legal system, of the Nyamal People’s long held, and pre-existing, native title in this land. That is to say, that native title has existed in this land, according to the traditional laws and customs of the Nyamal People, since long before this determination today.
I certify that the preceding forty-one (41) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Reeves. Associate:
Dated: 24 September 2019
SCHEDULE OF PARTIES
WAD 20 of 2019 Respondents
Fourth Respondent:
BHP DIRECT REDUCED IRON PTY LTD
Fifth Respondent:
BALFOUR DOWNS PASTORAL COY PTY LTD
Sixth Respondent:
BOVIDAE PTY LTD
Seventh Respondent:
HILLSIDE STATION (WA) PTY LTD
Eighth Respondent:
PARDOO BEEF CORPORATION PTY LTD
Ninth Respondent:
VANGUARD ENTERPRISES PTY LTD
Tenth Respondent:
STARTLINE NOMINEES PTY LTD
Eleventh Respondent:
ANNE CATHERINE PAULL
Twelfth Respondent:
GREENLEIGH PTY LTD
Thirteenth Respondent:
KEYDRIVE PTY LTD
Fourteenth Respondent:
BARKLEY MARSHALL DAY
Fifteenth Respondent:
JOAN ELIZABETH DAY
Sixteenth Respondent:
RICHARD ERNEST DAY
Seventeenth Respondent:
ZANE BRADLEY DAY
Eighteenth Respondent:
PAUL D BETTINI
Nineteenth Respondent:
JOHN J BETTINI
Twentieth Respondent:
ETHEL M BETTINI
Twenty-First Respondent:
ANTHONY B BETTINI
Twenty-Second Respondent:
MARY E BETTINI
Twenty-Third Respondent:
MARK J BETTINI
Twenty-Fourth Respondent:
DAVID F BETTINI
Twenty-Fifth Respondent:
GRANT WILLIAM ROBERT BROOKS
Twenty-Sixth Respondent:
WENDY MCWHIRTER BROOKS
Twenty-Seventh Respondent:
COLIN BRIERLY
Twenty-Eighth Respondent:
PINGA PTY LTD
8
4
2