ARGYLE DIAMOND MINE
ARGYLE DIAMOND MINE

Good neighbour agreement signing in 1980
Left to right: Peggy Patrick, Evelyn Hall, George Dixon and Tim Timms
Good Neighbour Agreement
On the 28th of August, 1979, diamonds were found in gravel samples collected by geologists from the dry riverbed of Smoke Creek on the Lissadell Pastoral Station in the East Kimberley.
Signed in 1980, the Good Neighbour Agreement was signed by four elders; John Toby, George Dixon, Evelyn Hall and Peggy Patrick. This was also known as the ‘Glen Hill Agreement’ which saw that Argyle invested in new houses, a school, power and water supplies and the ongoing financial support for further maintenance each year to access the mining lease area. This agreement formed the foundations for negotiations to come.

Argyle Participation Agreement
In the year 2000, Argyle wanted to move from open pit to underground mining which led to a memorandum of understanding that was signed between Argyle and Traditional Owners in 2001, allowing negotiations about the terms of future mining to begin.
In 2004, after four years of negotiation, the Argyle Participation Agreement (APA) was signed and then formally registered in June 2005. The APA includes an Indigenous Land Use Agreement and a Management Plan Agreement that is comprised of 8 separate management plans.
Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
Broadly, the ILUA sets out the financial arrangements between Argyle and the Traditional Owners. Two trusts were created under the ILUA which later became Kilkayi Trust (for receipt of royalty payments to be paid directly to Traditional Owners whilst mining was ongoing) and Gelganyem Trust (for receipt of royalty payments to be invested for use by Traditional Owners once mining had ceased).
ILUA Registration celebration ceremony 2005
Left to right: Rio Tinto Brendan Hammon, Chocolate Thomas and Evelyn Hall
Management Plan Agreement (MPA)
The MPA creates a governance arrangement to manage the relationship between Argyle and Traditional Owners during mining operations, known as the relationship Committee. The MPA includes eight specific management plans to govern the way the parties worked together throughout operations.
Aboriginal Site Protection: Management Plan 1 (MP1)
MP1 is the first management plan in the agreement and sets out the rules for how Argyle and Traditional Owners should work together to look after Aboriginal sites.
It makes sure that Argyle employees and contractors can continue with their mining work providing they protect and carefully manage important sites by ensuring heritage surveys are done properly and decisions are made collaboratively with Traditional Owners and other experts.
Training and Employment: Management Plan 2 (MP2)
MP2 is the agreement that Argyle and Traditional Owners work together to help TOs get training and employment at the mine, with the vision that young TOs would have the opportunity to build their skills and secure long-term employment in mining and beyond.
Cross Cultural Training: Management Plan 3 (MP3)
In MP3, Argyle agreed to make sure that all employees and contractors at the mine are given cross-cultural training by Traditional Owners as well as access to important regular Manthe ceremonies to keep them safe on country.
The integration of Traditional Owner cultural needs into the safety and induction operations of Rio Tinto set an important precedent and represents a change that TOs feel extremely proud to have directed.
Land Access: Management Plan 4 (MP4)
The MP sets out the mechanism of how Argyle will talk to Traditional Owners about what to leave at the mine site for them, after mining is complete and what Traditional Owners need to provide for that to take place. The State Government needs to be party to any infrastructure remaining in-situ.
Land Management: Management Plan 5 (MP5)
MP5 sets out ways for Traditional Owners to be updated about operations and consulted about issues affecting their country, including closure. This plan recognises that TOs have a right to give their ideas about mine closure and rehabilitation and encourages this feedback during annual tours and other meetings.
It also talks about Argyles commitment to the ongoing training of TO rangers who will continue to care for this land after mining.
Decommissioning: Management Plan 6 (MP6)
MP6 sets out what Argyle will leave on country for TOs after mining finishes; referring to things like roads, buildings, infrastructure, services and equipment. It also serves as a reminder that there is an agreement in place between Argyle and the State Government that says the State will be the owner of all things left at the mine site once Argyle has gone. TOs have the right to take over those things if the State Government lets them.
The timing of the native title claim made it challenging for TOs to make decisions about country during closure, including its potential commercial uses after relinquishment and the infrastructure or services needed on site to allow those uses to occur. However, these decisions are still TOs to make.
Business Development and Contracting: Management Plan 7 (MP7)
MP7 reflects a need to maximise business opportunities connected with the operation of the mine for Traditional Owner businesses. This includes the establishment of a business development task force made up of both Rio Tinto and Traditional Owner representatives. This is called the Yawoorroong Jidiwaddam Group (YJ). The YJ was established to represent Traditional Owner businesses and advocate for new and existing opportunities at the mine.
The Mine Closure
The Mine Closure Agreement was signed in 2023 and is a huge achievement for Traditional Owners and Gelganyem which will go some way to securing a more sustainable legacy for future generations.
The purpose of the Mine Closure Plan is to outline Rio Tinto’s objectives, commitments, process and strategy for the closure and rehabilitation of the Argyle Diamond Mine. The plan describes how the Argyle mine site will be decommissioned, rehabilitated, and relinquished to enable the land to be transitioned back to the Traditional Owners whose country Argyle has operated on for the past 38 years.
Gelganyem has also worked hard to scrutinise the closure work taking place by Rio Tinto and its head contractors on site, advocating strongly for the voices of TOs to be heard throughout the closure process.
“It’s important that we do justice to the story of Barramundi dreaming by getting this closure right. It’s not just important for the seven family groups… but it’s also extremely important for Aboriginal people around WA and Australia. This is a significant closure, and we know that there are many eyes watching us, including those of our old people who came before us and all people who were apart of negotiating this agreement”.
Kia Dowell, Traditional Owner and Chairperson, Gelganyem
