The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto have entered into a Co-Management Agreement. This agreement is aimed at establishing a lasting partnership and outlines the framework for Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations on PKKP Country. It formalizes engagement on proposals that affect heritage and social surroundings throughout the mine lifecycle.
The agreement emphasizes knowledge-sharing and joint design to ensure that significant heritage sites are preserved and co-managed. Terry Drage, Pinikura Traditional Owner and Chairperson of PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, commented, “The effect of this agreement is that PKKP Traditional Owners will receive certainty that our important places on Country will be protected from mining, while at the same time Rio Tinto will receive certainty around where they can develop much earlier in the mine cycle. Ultimately, this is good for us as Traditional Owners, and it is good for business.”
Simon Trott, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, reflected on past events by saying, “The destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters on the 24th of May 2020 brought immeasurable pain to the PKKP and profoundly changed our company. Our actions were wrong. We failed to uphold our company values, and our systems and processes were inadequate. Simply put, it should never have happened, and for that we will forever be sorry.” He acknowledged the role of PKKP in shaping a renewed approach to managing cultural heritage protection.
This agreement provides certainty for both parties: protection and management of PKKP heritage for the corporation and operational clarity for Rio Tinto. The broader terms were finalized last month before the five-year anniversary of Juukan Gorge’s destruction.
Additionally, the Co-Management Agreement reinforces commitments between Rio Tinto and PKKP to work together on rehabilitating Juukan Gorge while focusing efforts on preserving its cultural heritage.
