Camp options considered

An informal and reportedly mostly uninhabited indigenous camp set up on the Tom Price to Paraburdoo Road could be a tourist magnet if land tenure and compliance issues are sorted out.

The Westside camp, made up of a number of caravans, was established on the Rio Tinto-owned Rocklea Station near the Wakathuni community and land significant to the Yinhawangka people.

Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation chief executive John Hughes said there were plans to get tenure of the land, but it was not the organisation's top priority.

"We're a small corporation, we only set up in the last few years, so we can only do one thing at a time and Bellary Springs is our first priority," he said.

"The area around the camp has reasonable eco-tourism potential for a tourist walking trail or something like that.

"We're just looking forward to eventually getting the land and creating a sensible management plan."

Shire of Ashburton Presi- dent Kerry White said a review of remote communities would not unduly affect assessment of the issue in question.

"The present situation indicates there are health, building and town planning requirements that need to be assessed and a plan to gain com- pliance put forward," she said.

"The State Government plan to review remote communities is seen as a positive opportunity for everyone to contribute as it will enable a wider discussion to occur and understanding of these existing, and similar issues that might be repeated elsewhere.

"It does form part of the consideration process and therefore might require a slightly longer period of time to pass before some matters might be concluded."

A recommendation to discuss land tenure with stakeholders at last week's council meeting was not passed.

A Rio Tinto spokeswoman said the company was working closely with the Shire and the YAC to resolve the matter in a way which took into account traditional owner aspirations for the land.

A Department of Regional Development spokeswoman said the department had not been contacted and had insufficient information to assess what the next steps might be.