Firetail mine

The mine is located on the traditional land of the Yindjibarndi people, with the proposed mining at the Solomon hub leading to a long-standing dispute between the native title holders and the Fortescue Metals Group over compensation. The issue split the local community to a point where the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation rejected FMG's offers, which led to a rival group, the Wirlu-Murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, being formed, which chose to work with the mining company.^[1] The dispute was eventually settled in 2020, after 17 years of legal battle, when the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of the traditional owners.^[2]

In March 2011, FMG lodged an application with the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia for approval of the Solomon iron ore project, consisting of the Firetail and Kings Valley mine, and 127 km (79 mi) of new railway line to connect the mines with the existing Fortescue railway. Mine life, at the time, was predicted to be 20 years with a combined production of 80 million tonnes of iron ore per annum.^[3]

A proposed three-fold expansion of the Solomon hub mining area was approved by the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia in late 2016, despite long-standing opposition by the traditional owners of the land, the Yindjibarndi people, as well as concerns over the effects on the nearby Hammersley Gorge, located in Karijini National Park. The expansion was rejected by the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) but approved of by the rival Wirlu-Murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation.^[4]

In 2017, the Federal Court of Australia recognised that the Yindjibarndi had exclusive native title rights over some 2,700 km² (1,000 sq mi), and the court reaffirmed its decision in 2020 when FMG appealed to have the determination overturned.^[5] In 2022 the YAC asked the Federal Court to rule on compensation, after attempts to negotiate an Indigenous land use agreement had stalled.^[6] As of 2023^[update] YAC continues its battle in the courts for compensation. They are seeking unpaid royalties of more than A$500 million, as well as damages that could amount to more hundreds of millions, for "loss of sacred sites and spiritual connection to the land". The claim was initially discussed at a meeting between FMC and YAC in March 2011. The Western Australian Government may also bear responsibility for allowing the mining to take place without the permission of the Yindjibarndi people. The lawyer acting for the YAC sees it as a landmark case, as it would be "the first case that sets down the benchmark for compensation to be paid under the Native Title Act by a miner".^[7]