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Australia s Fortescue Metals Group has apologised to an Aboriginal group for clearing land on a heritage site while failing to meet a government condition for representatives of the community to be present when the damage took place.
It is the week s second such incident, despite pressure on Australian iron ore miners to show they have improved practices to manage important sites after Rio Tinto destroyed two sacred rock shelters for a mine expansion last May.
Fortescue had state government permission to clear the land in the Weelumurra Creek area registered as sacred to the Wintawari Guruma people, on condition that community elders were present to perform salvage and cultural rites, four documents reviewed by Reuters showed.
WA Government investigates potential breach of Aboriginal heritage laws by FMG
By Louise Miolin
WedWednesday 24
updated
WedWednesday 24
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt says the matter is being treated very seriously .
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The West Australian Government is investigating a potential breach of Aboriginal heritage laws by iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) in the state s north-west.
Key points:
It comes two days after reports of damage to a separate culturally significant site
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt says it s being treated very seriously
In January, FMG began ground-disturbing works at its Queen Valley site part of the miner s Solomon Hub project near Tom Price.