Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation & Rio Tinto have agreed on a new co-designed management plan to ensure the protection of significant social and cultural heritage values as part of Rio Tinto’s proposed development of the Western Range iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Social, Cultural Heritage Management Plan is the result of strong collaboration over the past year between the Yinhawangka people and Rio Tinto including ‘on-Country’ visits, archaelogical and ethnographic surveys and workshops. As a result of that collaboration, the mine was designed to reduce impacts on social and cultural heritage values.The SCHMP outlines protocols for joint decision making on environmental matters, mine planning and closure. It also outlines support for the Yinhawangka Ranger programme as well as plans to increase participation in on-Country environmental and other cultural heritage management activites.It is the first time Rio Tinto and Yinhawangka have jointly developed a plan of this type. Rio Tinto continues work to improve its approach to social and cultural heritage management with Traditional Owners in the Pilbara and is engaging with other Traditional Owner groups to develop similar plans.The SCHMP was submitted to Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority on 1 February 2022. It forms part of Rio Tinto’s submission to the EPA regarding the Greater Paraburdoo Iron Ore Hub Proposal.
Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation & Rio Tinto have agreed on a new co-designed management plan to ensure the protection of significant social and cultural heritage values as part of Rio Tinto’s proposed development of the Western Range iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Social, Cultural Heritage Management Plan is the result of strong collaboration over the past year between the Yinhawangka people and Rio Tinto including ‘on-Country’ visits, archaelogical and ethnographic surveys and workshops. As a result of that collaboration, the mine was designed to reduce impacts on social and cultural heritage values.The SCHMP outlines protocols for joint decision making on environmental matters, mine planning and closure. It also outlines support for the Yinhawangka Ranger programme as well as plans to increase participation in on-Country environmental and other cultural heritage management activites.It is the first time Rio Tinto and Yinhawangka have jointly developed a plan of this type. Rio Tinto continues work to improve its approach to social and cultural heritage management with Traditional Owners in the Pilbara and is engaging with other Traditional Owner groups to develop similar plans.The SCHMP was submitted to Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority on 1 February 2022. It forms part of Rio Tinto’s submission to the EPA regarding the Greater Paraburdoo Iron Ore Hub Proposal.
