Black Wattle Archaeology

25/06/2026

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-25/acerez-admits-to-destroying-aboriginal-rock-shelter/106719466

Good development is not just about approvals, deadlines and delivery. It is also about corporate governance: clear accountability, competent risk management, genuine consultation and respect for the places and communities affected by major projects.

Recent reporting on the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone raises serious questions about whether those standards are being met in NSW. ACEREZ has admitted that an Aboriginal rock shelter near Mudgee, identified in the project’s planning approval, was damaged beyond recovery during construction works, with its own investigation finding failures in site design and on-site construction protocols.

This was not an unknown risk. Traditional Owner representatives had reportedly discussed cultural sites with the company and were reassured they would not be harmed. Only months earlier, the same project attracted criticism after native vegetation clearing left about 60 hatchlings, including kookaburras, rosellas, galahs and kestrels, needing care.

This is not an argument against renewable energy. It is an argument for doing it properly.
If NSW is serious about the energy transition, cultural heritage protection and biodiversity conservation cannot be treated as box-ticking exercises. They must be embedded in project governance from board level to the machinery on the ground.

Communities are entitled to expect more than apologies after irreversible damage has occurred. They are entitled to transparent decision-making, enforceable safeguards, independent oversight and real accountability when approved management plans fail in practice.🤯

Progress should not mean repeating the same poor corporate governance failures under a greener banner.

ACREZ apologises to traditional owners "without reservation" as the NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe expresses her "fury" at the incident.

21/06/2026

Great article by Dr Anna Fagan.

There is a familiar narrative in the way Aboriginal heritage is discussed in Western Australia.It's a decades-old plot concerning 'heritage rorts', 'price gouging'[1], and delay and inefficiency in se...

13/05/2026

What happens to communities whose Country was mined before Native Title existed — and never compensated?

In the wake of the now landmark Yindjibarndi People v FMG compensation case, Anthony Galante’s recent article offers an important reminder: the historical impacts of iron ore mining across the Pilbara — particularly those predating the Native Title system — remain largely unresolved.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remedy-should-require-litigation-anthony-galante-gdubc

Early operations by subsidiaries of Rio Tinto and BHP fundamentally altered the Pilbara landscape. The complete removal of mountains such as Mt Whaleback, Mt Tom Price and Mt Goldsworthy — alongside events like the Marandoo controversy — has left lasting damage. These are not just environmental impacts; they represent irreversible harm to a cultural landscape more than 50,000 years old. They are scars on Country, on Ngurra, and enduring, intergenerational impacts on First Nations Peoples, their families and their communities. Compounding this, many legacy mining sites have remained in long-term care and maintenance, effectively deferring meaningful rehabilitation obligations.

While these operations were lawfully approved at the time, it is worth asking whether they were ever truly supported by the relevant Traditional Owners. Prior to the Native Title era, consent was not meaningfully sought, nor was compensation negotiated in any equitable way. Token gestures — housing for an elder in Hedland or Roebunre, a land cruiser here or there, or other limited support for a small number of individuals — were never a substitute for genuine agreement or fair compensation. This occurred at a time when many First Nations communities in the Pilbara were still denied basic human rights and were subject to systemic disadvantage. Equal pay was not sanctioned in WA under the pastoral industry award in until 1968–1969.

The absence of compensation for historical mining has contributed to a deeply unequal outcome across the region. Today, there is effectively a two-tier system: those Native Title Prescribed Body Corporates (PBCs) that receive benefits from modern agreements, and those whose Country was impacted prior to Native Title recognition and who have received little to no compensation. The result is visible in disparities across housing, health, education and broader socio-economic outcomes. In my experience, colleagues and community members connected to uncompensated groups continue to face significantly reduced access to essential services compared to those whose Traditional Owner groups benefit from contemporary agreements.

There is no doubt that the Native Title system, despite its imperfections, has delivered transformative change. By requiring mining proponents to negotiate access to land, it has embedded a framework for compensation, recognition and engagement. These agreements have supported stronger, more resilient communities and provided a foundation for future development.

Given this, there is a compelling question for industry: why should historical impacts only be addressed through litigation? Rio Tinto and BHP are well aware of the positive outcomes Native Title agreements have delivered across the Pilbara. Proactively addressing legacy impacts — rather than resisting or awaiting legal challenge — would demonstrate genuine commitment to reconciliation and strengthen their social licence to operate.

As an archaeologist, we study change in humans and their cultures over time, and time shows us that no industry is permanent. What endures is people, culture and connection to Country. Building resilience within First Nations communities is a legacy that will outlast any resource project. Addressing historical inequities is not just a legal or financial issue — it is a moral and social imperative.

Yesterday’s Federal Court decision awarding $150 million for cultural loss in the Yindjibarndi compensation case is a landmark moment for native title, mining and agreement-making in Australia. The number matters.

12/05/2026

FMG has always sailed just over the line. Government and regulatory agencies have let selective philanthropic donations make up for poor corporate governance. Thank God for an independent judicial system.

Tomorrow will mark a historic day for an outback WA community as the Federal Court decides how much compensation it is due after Andrew Forrest's FMG mined its land without permission.

26/02/2026

📣 𝑾𝑨 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑰𝑶𝑹 𝑨𝑹𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑬𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑰𝑺𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑫 – Casual Role 📣

Black Wattle Archaeology is seeking an experienced **Western Australian based** 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒆𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕 for projects in WA in 2026.

We’re looking for someone who:
✔ Has a minimum of 5 years’ field experience in Australian archaeology
✔ Has demonstrated experience supervising field teams and managing test pitting programs
✔ Is confident in on-site decision making and ensuring compliance with heritage WHS and environmental legislation
✔ Has strong site recording, documentation, and reporting skills
✔ Is reliable, organised, and able to lead a team in demanding field conditions
✔ 4WD training Statement of Attainment (preferred)
✔ WA based (preferred)
✔ Is available for 12 day projects in between May and November 2026

This role will involve leading fieldwork in the Pilbara Region and working closely with our broader project team, client and local aboriginal land groups.

📍 Site Location: Pilbara Region WA (Head Office: Central Coast, NSW)
📅 Availability: Must be available for ongoing projects throughout 2026
📧 To apply: Please send your CV and a brief expression of interest to [email protected]

Please share with your networks!

11/02/2026

POSITION FILLED
📣𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑫𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑬 𝑨𝑹𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑬𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑰𝑺𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑫 – Casual Role (March) 📣

Black Wattle Archaeology is seeking a motivated 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒆𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕 for a 2-week casual position in March.

We’re looking for someone who:
✔ Has recently completed a degree in Archaeology or related field
✔ Has some test pitting field experience (essential)
✔ Is reliable, organised, and able to work as part of a team
✔ Is available for a continuous 2-week period in March
✔ Is able to work under demanding physical conditions

This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work alongside an experienced team. Possibility for other work on future projects.

📍 Site Location: Hunter Region NSW (Head Office: Central Coast, NSW)
📅 Availability: Must be available for 2 consecutive weeks in March
📧 To apply: Please send your CV and a brief expression of interest to [email protected]

Feel free to share with your networks!