OHM fined for damaging sacred Aboriginal site
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Manganese miner OM Holdings (OMH) has expressed its regret after being convicted of desecrating an Aboriginal heritage site within its Bootu Creek project area, in the Northern Territory.
OMH has previously pled guilty to one charge of damaging a sacred site, known as the Two Women Sitting Down site, but has contested charges brought by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority that the site had been desecrated, arguing that it had no intention of damaging the site.
The Darwin Magistrates Court found on Friday that OMH was guilty under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act and fined the company A$150 000.
“The company never intended to harm, damage or disrespect the sacred site. We sincerely regret the damage and the hurt caused, and I unreservedly apologise to the site’s custodians and traditional owners,” said OMH CEO Peter Toth.
He noted that while the company had encountered unexpected ground conditions in the Masai pit, it was clear that the pit design and mining activities contributed to damage at the sacred site.
“As soon as that damage was identified, we executed a comprehensive remediation plan, including ongoing monitoring, which helped to secure the site and prevent further damage,” Toth said.
The Bootu Creek mine is located 110 km north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Mining operations kicked off in November 2005, with the first batch of ore processed in April 2006.
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