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Traditional owners say Rio Tinto's blasting has "had an effect" on an ancient rock shelter near the Nammuldi iron ore mine, despite the company concluding it had suffered "no structural damage" as a result of the explosions.
Key points:
- Last month it was reported Rio Tinto's blasting disturbed an ancient Aboriginal rock shelter
- The incident occurred near the Nammuldi iron ore mine, 60 kilometres north-west of Tom Price
- The company now says the shelter suffered no major damage as a result of the blast
The owners, who have inspected the rock shelter, said it was in a “fragile state” and had been impacted by Rio’s blasting, adding they believed the company had taken “unnecessary risks”.
Rio has conducted more than 1,800 controlled blasts across the Pilbara over the past three years.
Some of those blasts occurred at the Nammuldi iron ore mine, about 60 kilometres north-west of Tom Price.
The mine is about 150 metres away from the rock shelter, and in September the company confirmed it was working with traditional owners from the Muntulgura Guruma people to assess the damage.
The large rock and scrub tree had fallen from the entrance to the cave in August during blasting.
The disturbance drew particular attention because Rio had been widely condemned three years ago when blasts at its Brockman 4 site, also near Tom Price, destroyed two ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge.
Those blasts came despite traditional owners warning the company of the site's significance.
Rio had self-reported this latest incident near the Nammuldi mine, after drones detected movement following the blasting. Before and after photos showed the dislodged tree and rock.
Rio Tinto's Cecile Thaxter addressed the issue at an iron ore investor presentation and sought to ease concerns.
"Yesterday, representatives from the Muntulgura Guruma people and Rio Tinto visited the rock shelter," Ms Thaxter said.
"Assessments found no structural damage to the rock shelter itself, and no damage to cultural materials.
"We will continue to work closely with the Muntulgura Guruma people."
Call for review of blast management
The Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation said its representatives and traditional owners inspected the rock shelter independently of Rio on Sunday.
"WGAC confirms the site is in a fragile state, and it is clear that blasting has had an effect on the rock shelter," it said.
"WGAC is concerned with effectiveness of RTIO [Rio Tinto Iron Ore] blast management procedures and feels that Rio took unnecessary risks in this instance.
"After the inspection, WGAC learned there are 87 other Muntulgura Guruma rock shelters under RTIO blast management. WGAC is therefore concerned about the management of these sites.
"It is clear a thorough review of blast management procedures and greater oversight by the traditional owners is needed to prevent any future impacts to Muntulgura Guruma heritage."
At the time the disturbance was detected, blasting at Nammuldi was paused and it has still not resumed.
Rio is conducting an internal review of the incident and may change its blasting practices.
The chief executive of Rio Tinto's iron ore operations, Simon Trott, has said he was sorry this had occurred.
Mr Trott said "the blast was designed so it would mimic effectively what you'd see in the natural environment".