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GuLF cOMMunItIeS AGreeMent
Celebrating the success
of our apprentices.
rOLe
OVerVIeW The Gulf Communities Agreement is divided into ten schedules and
Century’s ‘social license to operate’ is the unique Gulf describes the roles and responsibilities of Century, the Queensland
Communities Agreement (GCA), an agreement between Government and Native Title groups, which are outlined below.
Century, the Queensland Government and the four Century
Native Title Groups of Waanyi, Mingginda, Gkuthaarn
and Kukatj. The Gulf Communities Agreement requires Century provide the Native
Title groups and the people of the Gulf of Carpentaria with:
The agreement provides education, training and employment opportunities for
the people of the lower-Gulf region, as well as cultural and environmental • Employment and training opportunities for people in the Gulf of
assurances. Carpentaria.
NEGOTIATION • Business opportunities for local Aboriginal people at the mine and
The Gulf Communities Agreement (GCA) was negotiated under the Right to port sites and within their local communities.
Negotiate provisions of the Native Title Act (1993) and signed in February 1997. • Ongoing assistance to help with the establishment and operation of
these businesses.
In negotiating the Gulf Communities Agreement, the desired outcomes of the
Native Title groups were to: • Assurances regarding environmental protection.
• Remove their people and other members of their communities from • Assurances about the identification, protection and management of
welfare dependency and, to the greatest extent possible, promote significant Aboriginal sites.
economic self-sufficiency. • The gradual transfer of five pastoral leases to local Aboriginal
• Participate as fully as possible in Century Mine and related ventures. ownership.
• Be able to live on their traditional lands. • Monetary payments to the Native Title groups for land access.
• Continued consultation and communication.
• Protect fully the natural environment and its resources.
Queensland Government
• Identify and protect sites of cultural significance.
• Ensure that the material benefits gained do not corrupt Indigenous Under the Gulf Communities Agreement, the Queensland Government
is to contribute to cultural and social improvements in the region by
cultures, but enable people to reaffirm their beliefs and enhance the providing services and infrastructure.
lifestyles of the people of the Gulf through community and cultural
development initiatives. Indigenous People’s Role
• Ensure that the standard of health, employment rates, education Local Indigenous people are required to give Century access to the area
opportunities and other social indices of the people of the Gulf are to mine and conduct its operations.
comparable to ordinary Australian standards.
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GuLF cOMMunItIeS AGreeMent In ActIOn SCHEDULE THREE: THE ENVIRONMENT
SCHEDULE ONE: QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT The environment is very important to Indigenous people and the Gulf
Schedule One stipulates that the Queensland Government is to: Communities Agreement includes various environmental assurances.
• Carry out a social impact assessment to identify regional issues and The Century Environment Committee’s (CEC) role is to monitor and advise
concerns and use this as a basis for a framework to monitor social on environmental issues relating to Century’s operations and the
change in the area. surrounding region. Their focus is regional as it is recognised that an
environmental incident at Century may affect the whole region. The
• Assist the Waayni Native Title group with their claim under Queensland Committee is funded by Century.
legislation for Boodjamulla National Park.
The CEC includes representatives from each of the Native Title groups,
• Carry out certain road improvements, provide culturally appropriate Century and the Queensland Government and community membership
birthing centres and improve community infrastructure at Gregory from the Wellesley Islands. The CEC employs an Environmental Liaison
Outstation. Officer to represent the Committee on a day-to-day basis.
• Provide funds for the Gulf Aboriginal Development Company (GADC) to SCHEDULE FOUR: HERITAGE AND SITES OF CULTURAL
develop a plan for a Men’s Business assosication. SIGNIFICANCE
• Contribute funding for the training and vocational education of local The people of the Gulf have a special connection to the land they are from,
Indigenous people. and Schedule Four includes provisions to protect local heritage and sites of
• Pay compensation to the land and Native Title holders for the acquisi- cultural significance. Century employees a team of local people who have
tion of land allow the slurry pipeline from the mine at Lawn Hill to knowledge of, and traditional responsibilities, as Cultural Monitors to carry
Century’s port operations in Karumba. out full cultural clearances before the commencement of and supervise any
ground disturbing work.
Attendees at the Youth Leadership
Forum, held at Century in 2009.
SCHEDULE TWO: EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SCHEDULE FIVE: LANDS
Under the Agreement, Century is to provide training opportunities that can Under Schedule Five of the Gulf Communities Agreement, five pastoral
lead to meaningful employment for local people in the mining industry and holdings – Lawn Hill, Riversleigh, Turn Off Lagoons, Pendine and Konka - ac-
wider community. quired with the mine site were to be transferred to the appropriate Native
Title Groups, with Century providing some managerial support to assist the
Century has a number of initiatives in place to recruit, train and retain local
properties to become viable businesses.
people, including:
The Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company (LHRPHC) was
• A prevocational program to help young people from the lower Gulf
established under the Agreement and jointly owned by Century and the
region to transition into traineeships and apprenticeships.
Waayni people, with a view to eventually transfer majority shareholding to
• Literacy and numeracy assistance for trainees, apprentices and other the Waayni Native Title Group. Currently, LHRPHC is 51 percent owned by
employees. the Waayni people and 49 percent owned by Century. The Waayni people
have full ownership of the Turn Off Lagoons property. Century has
• Ongoing support for Gulf employees by the Community and Stakeholder transferred its rights, title and interest in Pendine and Konka to the
Relations team. Ganggalida people.
• Community Liaison Officers in Doomadgee, Normanton and Mornington
to assist with the recruitment process and provide ongoing support to SCHEDULE SIX: ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS TRUST
employees and their families. Century contributes an agreed amount annually to the Aboriginal Develop-
The Employment, Education and Training Committee’s role is to facilitate ment Benefits Trust (ADBT), which was established to manage and
the flow of communication about employment and training opportunities distribute the loans and grants for the development of local Aboriginal
and assist in the development and execution of an effective recruitment business. The ADBT is made up of representatives of the Native Title groups
and training policy. The Committee, which includes representatives from and Gulf Communities, a professional accountant, an Aboriginal business
each of the Native Title Groups, Century and the Queensland and leader and a Century employee.
Australian governments, also aims to maximise government funding and The ADBT is also responsible for managing a one-off trust fund from
programs for vocational education, employment and training programs that Century and the Queensland Government for personal development
benefit local Aboriginal people and corporations and promote an programs based on sporting activities.
understanding of Aboriginal culture.
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GULF COMMUNITIES AGREEMENT: TEN-YEAR REVIEW
The Gulf Communities Agreements requires that the Agreement itself be
reviewed every five years. The second review of the Agreement in 2007 and
2008 was overseen by a Steering Committee made up of representatives
from the Native Title groups, Century and Queensland Government and
carried out by independent consultants.
While the Ten-Year Review acknowledged that many people had benefited
from the Gulf Communities Agreement, it also highlighted a number of
improvements that could be made. These recommendations include:
• Formation of a new GCA Management Board, a Gulf Business Forum
and a Young Leaders Forum
• Improved strategic and organisational planning around delivery of the
GCA
• Improved monitoring of outcomes of the GCA
• Release of A$5.7 million by Queensland Government to carry out a
social impact assessment, and
• New initiatives in governance and leadership training for signatory
Native Title groups, supported by federal and state governments.
Century, the Queensland Government and Native Title groups are
SCHEDULES SEVEN AND EIGHT: OTHER BENEFITS AND GULF committed to implementing these recommendations to ensure that the Gulf
ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Communities Agreements delivers the maximum benefit.
GULF ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
prIncIpAL OFFIce
The Gulf Communities Agreement allows Century to access and use lands Level 23, 28 Freshwater Place
traditionally belonging to the Native Title groups. In return, these groups Southbank VIC 3006
receive annual compensation payments. PO Box 19421 Southbank VIC 3006
T 61 3 9288 0888
The Gulf Aboriginal Development Company (GADC) is responsible for F 61 3 9288 0800
receiving and distributing these annual compensation payments to seven info@mmgroupltd.com
eligible bodies represented in the Agreement: North Ganalanja, Ngumar-
ryina, Traditional Waayni Elders Aboriginal Corporation, Bidinggu, Ming-
gindda, Gkuttaarn and Kukatj and Waayni Nation Aboriginal Corporation. century
The GADC also provides a central point and voice for the Native Title Century mine ContaCts
groups.
Lloyd Jones
SCHEDULE NINE: PROJECT RIGHTS Manager – Community and Stakeholder Relations
T: 61 7 4769 5426 F: 61 7 4769 5361
The Native Title groups are recognised as the Traditional Owners of the lloyd.jones@mmgroupltd.com
lands and waters relating to Century, and the construction and operation
of the mine does not distinguish Native Title.
normanton Community Liaison offiCer
Under the Gulf Communities Agreement, the Native Title groups are to: Maria George
• Assist the mine and port sites where possible within reasonable time 105 Landsborough Street
frames to continue operating, and not impede operations. Normanton QLD 4890
T: (07) 4745 1362
• Enter into other agreements with the Queensland Government Mob: 0428 182 752
consistent with the Gulf Communities Agreement to ensure Century’s F: 61 4745 1386
continued operations
• Acknowledge that the Gulf Communities Agreement is an agreement mornington isLand Community Liaison offiCer
for the purposes of the Native Title Act, along with the Gulf Aboriginal Jane Ah Kit
Development Company (GADC). M: 0427 379 409
Schedule Nine also provides for the event that Century discovers and C/Mornington Island Post Office QLD 4871
wishes to mine another ore body on the existing mine lease. It states that if
this occurs, then the benefits stipulated under the Agreement will satisfy
doomadgee Community Laison offiCer
any compensation entitlement. Schedule Nine also provides that Century
will continue to meets is obligations under the Agreement if operations Laurel Douglas
continue beyond 2020. Gunnalungga St, Doomadgee, QLD 4830
M: 0429 850 885
SCHEDULE TEN: LIAISON AND RIGHTS
mmg media enquiries ContaCt
The Century Liaison and Advisory Committee (CLAC) was established under Sally Cox
Schedule Ten to maintain an overview of the operation of and any Communications Advisor
recommendations and amendments to the Agreement. The Committee T 61 3 9288 0850
included 13 representatives from the Native Title groups, Century and the
Queensland Government. sally.cox@mmgroupltd.com
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