Engagement

A starting point for mining and exploration companies, consultants, and others looking to engage with Yugunga-Nya people.

If you are a mining or exploration company, a consultant, or another organisation looking to do work on Yugunga-Nya country, this page is the right place to start. The Yugunga-Nya Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (YN PBC) is the Registered Native Title Body Corporate for the Yugunga-Nya people. Our determination covers over 21,305 square kilometres of land in the Mid-West and Murchison regions of Western Australia, including Meekatharra and Cue.

If your activity is likely to affect Yugunga-Nya country, the law and good practice both expect early engagement with us. We welcome that contact and we are set up to make the process as straightforward as possible.

When to contact us

Download the Request Form

You should contact YN PBC if you are planning, considering, or already involved in any of the following on Yugunga-Nya country:

• Exploration or mining activity, including drilling, costeaning, bulk sampling, and tenement applications
• Cultural heritage surveys or assessments under heritage legislation
• Future act notices, including section 29 notices and applications under the expedited procedure
• Mine site infrastructure such as tailings storage facilities, haul roads, and water management
• Pastoral or land-use changes that may affect native title rights and interests
• Closure or rehabilitation planning

If you are unsure whether your activity needs YN PBC engagement, get in touch anyway. Early, informal contact is welcomed. It is far easier to get the process right at the start than to fix problems later.

What happens after you contact us

1. A YN PBC officer reviews your submission and works out the right next steps. You will hear back within five business days.
2. The officer will either guide you through the relevant process or refer your matter to the appropriate person.

Please note: Submitting this form is not a substitute for any formal regulatory process you are required to follow under the Native Title Act, the Aboriginal Heritage Act, or other applicable legislation.

A note on cultural information

Please do not include cultural heritage information about Yugunga-Nya sites, ceremonies, or practices in your submission. Cultural knowledge is held by the Yugunga-Nya people and shared on our terms, where appropriate, in the context of formal heritage processes.

Useful links and references

The following primary sources may help you understand the regulatory framework that applies to activities on Yugunga-Nya country.

Federal legislation

• Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) — the foundational legislation governing native title rights and future acts
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) — federal heritage protection
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) — federal environmental approvals

Western Australian legislation

• Mining Act 1978 (WA) — tenement applications and mining activity
• Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA) — heritage legislation
• Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) — state environmental approvals

Regulators and processes

• National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) — future act notices and the expedited procedure
• Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) — tenement administration
• Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) — environmental licensing
• Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) — Part IV referrals and assessments

YN PBC provides these references as a starting point. They are not legal advice. If you need authoritative guidance on what these laws require of your project, please consult a lawyer.

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