The West Australian state government has issued a Chinese-owned company accused of illegally clearing bush in the Kimberley with a "letter of warning" after a nearly three-year investigation.
Zenith Australia Investment Holdings cleared about 120 hectares of bush without a permit on the Yakka Munga Station east of Derby during a fortnight in June 2019.
The bulldozing prompted a stop-work order from the WA government after Nyikina Mangala traditional owners blockaded the station gates to stop the machinery from returning to the property.
Traditional owners said they lost significant sites during the bulldozing, including ancient trees and termite mounds that housed the bones of their ancestors.
The incident prompted an investigation by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, with Zenith required to remediate the site through backfilling soil, removing livestock and building water diversion banks.
The department confirmed it had finalised its investigation earlier this month.
The department said Zenith had since complied with all remedial requests to rehabilitate the area, which needed to be taken into consideration in determining a penalty.
The statement also said Zenith maintained it had only acted unlawfully due to its the department’s own advice, and the department said it had since given them further advice around the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act and updated its own publications for clarity.
“Zenith has provided an assurance that it intends to fully comply with the Act, however any further unauthorised clearing within the property may result in higher enforcement options to ensure compliance,” the statement said.
The conclusion of the investigation comes just months after the traditional owners expressed their frustration over the length of the process.
Nyikina woman Rosita Shaw was the organiser of the blockade and previously told the ABC she still felt hurt over losing significant cultural sites at Yakka Munga.
Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard said the outcome of the investigation was "deeply disappointing".
He said the bulldozing saw the clearing of the Kimberley's unique tropical savanna, boabs, eucalyptus and other shrubs.
"There's not enough emphasis on protecting vegetation in the Kimberley," Mr Pritchard said.
“This is a stark example of the government attitude towards protecting the land here.”
Meanwhile, pastoralists have criticised the "heavy-handed approach" from the WA government with its stop-work order, citing the need to better manage relationships with international pastoralists.
Pastoralists and Graziers Association WA president Tony Seabrook said the letter of warning was a positive outcome.
“I think there's a bit of overexuberance there and the way that the project was carried forward … it's cost them a lot of money,” he said.
“They've copped a fair sort of a burden here, and I think they've got the attention of everybody.
“I don't think you'll see anything happening out there like this again because people don't want to get financially hurt as much as Zenith have been hurt.
Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation, the Kimberley Land Council, Zenith and the Department have been contacted for comment.
