The Australian Oil & Gas Review
Community focused
THOSE that wonder about the impact of Aboriginal corporations established by Traditional Owners to manage their native title agreements with resources companies need only look to the work of the Onslow-based Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation, known as BTAC.
In less than a decade, BTAC has become a large and complex enterprise involved in a variety of industries, from health services to local businesses and construction – with one goal, sustainably improving the lives of Traditional Owners.
The corporation also manages mining leases and undertakes private or government construction and maintenance works on Thalanyji land.
BTAC’S mission is to support the interests of the Thalanyji People and by extension the Onslow community as a whole.
“To achieve our goals we own, part-own, and operate a number of businesses in and around Thalanyji determined land and the profits are directed to member and community support programs and projects we are undertaking,” BTAC chief executive Matthew Slack said.
construction
Through Thalanyji Projects, the corporation provides construction contracting services in Onslow and the wider Thalanyji area, including carpentry, architects, labourers and landscapers.
The team can undertake small construction projects, domestic and small to medium commercial renovations.
Service stations
BTAC owns and operates two service stations managed and operated by Thalanyji people through Onslow Service Stations.
Plans are also well advanced for a new purpose-built service station and vehicle workshop in Onslow.
The new full-service facility was approved for development in April this year and construction is expected to commence in the final quarter of 2017.
It will be equipped with a full kitchen and dining facilities, car wash, convenience store, bakery, truck parking, and a new state-of-the-art three hoist mechanical workshop.
Health and aged care
Two elderly Thalanyji women, both aged in their nineties, will soon be living in specially-built home care units in Onslow, designed and built by BTAC.
The two units (the first of five) are the result of a gap analysis to determine the health and medical services available on Onslow, what services the Thalanyji people needed and which service providers they could partner to deliver them.
East Pilbara Independent Support will provide personal care and domestic support to the women.
“This is tangible outcome for two Aunties and their families and shows just what can be achieved when we have the money and the self-determination to deliver services which government may be unable to provide because of the small scale involved,” Mr Slack said.
The Corporation also has plans to provide individualised health care programs in partnership with service provider Bupa to help Thalanyji people, the wider Aboriginal community and other Onslow residents to improve their health.
utmost integrity
Mr Slack said corporations managing funds on behalf of Traditional Owners had a duty to demonstrate exactly how income derived through native title agreements with resources companies was used and to show the utmost integrity and transparency.
“The Thalanyji people worked incredibly hard to achieve native title determination back in 1998 and it should amount to something tangible both in terms of how the Thalanyji are able to improve their own lives as well as the lives of non-thalanyji people,” Mr Slack said.
“We listen to our Elders and look for ways to respond to the needs in the community that they see are important.
We provide the direction and expertise to put those things on the ground, whether they’re income-generating businesses or essential services which derive little to no return but which are basic services taken for granted in bigger towns and cities.”