PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) has welcomed the Western Australian government’s commitment to invest A$77-million over the next four years to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in the state.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr Tony Buti this week said the funding increase, included in the 2023/24 state budget, would support implementation of a new system and ensure the sustainability of Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services (LACHS).

Under the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021, LACHS will have a regulatory role to provide advice on Aboriginal cultural heritage, help negotiate and facilitate agreement-making on land-use proposals and take on significant administrative and operational responsibilities.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, Western Australia will have a modern legislative framework for the protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage, and I am pleased to support our commitment to these new laws with a significant funding investment.

“Ensuring the sustainability of LACHS has been raised consistently throughout the co-design process, both from Aboriginal people and organisations and from industry.

“We need a system that is effective, responsive and able to meet the timeframes set out by the new Act to ensure business activities are not impeded, and that there are no risks to Aboriginal cultural heritage,” said Buti.

“Our funding commitment will be subject to annual review through normal budget processes to ensure we have sufficient reserves to respond to the number of LACHS, the level of industry activity and enquiries in the system.

“We expect the first LACHS to be designated by the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council over the coming months and look forward to supporting these newly appointed organisations to build their capacity and prepare for the new system.”

Amec CEO Warren Pearce said this week that the industry body had strongly advocated the need for increased, sustained funding, to ensure LACHS and government agencies are resourced and effectively supported to meet heightened demand as the July 2023 commencement date quickly approaches.

“The A$77-million increase in the Western Australia 2023/2024 budget, over the next four years, is a critical increase to funding allocated by the state government to ensure the frameworks established over a robust co-design process, can support the implementation of the new local services.”

Up to A$300 000 of funding will be provided each year to LACHS, when established, to ensure adequate levels of resourcing and capacity to meet the anticipated service level requirements from proponents, traditional owners and Aboriginal communities.

“Throughout the co-design process, involving traditional owners, industry and government, there has been consistent recognition of the need for stronger cultural heritage protections. Ensuring there are well-resourced systems, policies and processes in place to support legislative reforms is essential to achieving these outcomes,” said Pearce.

“There are still a wide range of challenges to be overcome, and more guidance needed on how key pieces of the new process will work, however, today’s announcement is a major step forward.”