Gold Fields native title agreement with Ngadju traditional owners to deliver ‘significant’ benefits

Mining giant Gold Fields has signed a native title agreement that will deliver “significant” benefits to the traditional owners of the land the St Ives gold mine near Kambalda sits on. Gold Fields this week said the deal with the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation came after two years of negotiations. The Ngadju people are the determined native title holders of the area surrounding Norseman, spanning 102,000sqkm, which includes Gold Fields’ St Ives gold mine 20km south-east of Kambalda. The company said the agreement would result in “significant” value being delivered to the Ngadju people through compensation payments and other initiatives and benefits, including a substantial initial payment in recognition of the mining activities that had occurred on Ngadju lands. Gold Fields said a key focus of the agreement was the protection and management of cultural heritage, including a range of collaborative cultural awareness-building initiatives aimed at raising awareness and understanding of Ngadju lands and culture across the St Ives workforce. It said the company would guarantee entry-level positions for Ngadju people at the St Ives gold mine, with additional financial support available for training and education courses applicable to these traineeships, apprenticeships, or graduate roles. Gold Fields would also prioritise Ngadju employment and procurement it said, with the corporation creating registers of interested Ngadju candidates and businesses that would receive advance notification of any opportunities ahead of other potential applicants. Corporation chair Thelma Dimer said the agreement represented a significant achievement for the Ngadju community. “Following two years of dedicated negotiations, it embodies our commitment to advancing a future that both respects our cultural heritage and delivers real benefits to our people,” she said. “We are particularly pleased with the emphasis in the agreement on cultural awareness and protecting our heritage. “This agreement addresses the historical impacts of mining on our lands and sets a precedent for future collaborations.” Gold Fields chief executive Mike Fraser said the agreement demonstrated the company’s commitment to building and maintaining strong and respectful relationships with First Nations peoples. “Gold Fields has been working closely with the NNTAC to ensure this agreement will deliver positive outcomes to the Ngadju community,” he said. “We are delighted to be part of the Ngadju people’s journey towards self-determination with this life-of-mine agreement. “This agreement not only supports the social and economic outcomes for Ngadju people today, but also for future generations. “Most importantly, this agreement ensures the continuation and preservation of Ngadju culture.”