Rio Tinto has signed an updated Native Title Agreement with Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation (KNAC) to deliver long-term benefits for the Nyiyaparli People in Western Australia’s north.
The updated agreement delivers a clear framework for engaging on mine development on Nyiyaparli Country, where parts of Rio Tinto’s Hope Downs mining operations and proposed Rhodes Ridge development are located.
The agreement updates the original Native Title Agreement that was signed in 2011. It delivers enhanced cultural heritage and environmental protections, supports earlier and ongoing consultation, and provides greater transparency in decision-making for mining on Nyiyaparli Country.
KNAC’s Agreement Review Committee, supported by Common Law Holders, and informed by on-Country consultations and heritage advice, guided the new agreement. Through this process, Nyiyaparli voices shaped the changes that support community aspirations and protect Country.
KNAC Chairperson Leonard Michael Stream said: “We appreciate working with Rio over the last three years to deliver a better deal for Nyiyaparli Country and for Nyiyaparli People that works for us both.”
The updated agreement creates a stronger foundation for enduring benefits for Nyiyaparli People, including employment, training and business development, and embeds governance structures that reflect Nyiyaparli cultural and corporate principles.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore CEO Matthew Holcz said: “Through open dialogue and collaboration, we have strengthened the way we will work together, with clearer processes that respect Country and support transparency in decision-making.”
