Benefiting future generations

The Ely story began in 1965, when the Ely bauxite mining lease was granted to Alcan, long before Native Title was recognised in Australian Law.  For decades, the lease remained undeveloped.

In the mid-1990s, Alcan announced plans to develop the Ely bauxite deposit to supply its alumina refinery in Gladstone.  Although there was no legal requirement to negotiate an agreement, Tradional Owners, Elders, community leaders, and the Cape York Land Council made a strategic decision to pursue an agreement to recognise Aboriginal interests, protect Country, and deliver fair benefits.

Following extensive community consultations and rapid negotiations, the Ely Bauxite Mining Project Agreement (Ely Agreement) was signed in 1997.  The Agreement includes royalty payments lined to production, commitments to Traditional Owner involvement in environmental management, and provisions for the return of culturally and environmentally significant land.

Payments under the Ely Agreement are made to the Ely Bauxite Mine Aboriginal Beneficiaries Trust (Ely Trust), established in 1997 to manage benefits for Traditional Owners of the area of the Ely lease, and the communities of Napranum, Mapoon and New Mapoon.

While the Ely Trust manages trust money, a Co-ordination Committee made up of representatives of Traditional Owners, communities and Rio Tino manages the implementation of other parts of the agreement.

Mining from the Ely lease area may stop in the next few years, but the lease and agreement will continue until lands have been rehabilitated.  Most payments from Rio Tinto will stop when mining stops.  Ely Trust will continue to manage trust money and with good management, hopes to continue to operate for the benefit of Traditional Owners and communities for foreseeable future.

The Ely Trust continues to honour the intent of the 1997 Ely Agreement – managing benefits responsibly and working to create lasting outcomes for people, culture and Country, now and for future generations.