Heritage
The Tropicana Joint Venture partners acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this region and respect their continued connection to country. The TJV Project area is located within a region with cultural connections for the Wongatha people of the Eastern Goldfields and the Spinifex Peoples.
The TJV commenced archaeological and ethnographic surveys from the very beginning of exploration in 2002 and continues to maintain an ongoing heritage consultation and management program for all exploration and mining development.
The TJV commissioned an extensive and comprehensive programme of archaeological and ethnographic surveys for the Tropicana Gold Mine Project in 2006 and continued through to 2011. This included a comprehensive ethnographic review of the Tropicana Gold Mine Project area carried out by senior Knowledge Holders prior to final project approval in 2010.
This early and consistent consultation throughout Tropicana’s development enabled project planners to successfully avoid areas of cultural importance.
A number of ethnographic sites were identified, with protocols in place to protect and preserve these.
Similarly, numerous archaeological sites were identified within and around the Tropicana Gold Mine Project area. These archaeological site locations have been avoided by the mine design, again with protocols in place to protect and preserve these.
The TJV partners continue to provide updates on project developments and seek heritage advice and input from the Traditional Owners and Custodians on the project area and the surrounding exploration ground.
Cultural Heritage Management Strategy
The principal objective is to prescribe the management practices that will be used by all employees and contractors working at Tropicana to ensure the protection and management of Aboriginal Sites and other Heritage Sites.
As part of this, employees are required to complete a cultural awareness course which will include local Indigenous community content that highlights the important connections to country and the values placed on areas of significance in the Great Victoria Desert.
