About Us
Groote Holdings Aboriginal Corporation (GHAC) metamorphosed from the 2012 Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) 15-year Strategic Plan. A plan driven by Community Elders to reverse the decisions made over the last 100 years and reassert control over Anindilyakwa destiny.
Economic activity is not a new concept to the Anindilyakwa people. Prior to European settlement an active trade with the Macassans existed. The Macassans travelled to this region an estimated 900 years in search of Trepang or Sea Cucumber. GHAC approach to economic development leverages on the importance and opportunity of the “Customary Economy”.
The customary economy takes into consideration the natural assets and strengths still embedded in the culture of the Anindilyakwa people. Linking the customary (culture) economy with investment from the government (State) and private sector (market) leads provides the to a true hybrid economy.
15 Years Strategic Plan
Mining will not be on Groote Eylandt forever and the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) needs to prepare for the point in time when mining ceases (current mine life is 7 years).
The ALC is tracking the fluctuations in the world economy and wants to invest now for a viable, culturally rich, sustainable and low-cost economy, not dependent upon mining royalty income.
The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to allow the Anindilyakwa people to take the future into their own hands. The objectives of the consultative processes that underpinned this document were two- fold: To ensure that Traditional Owners make informed decisions. To ensure that decision making processes are consistent with the cultural tenets and drivers by which Traditional Owners make choices within their own culture.
The Strategic Plan recognises that decisions made outside of these parameters will hold minimal legitimacy and will not engage Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island people in applying the plan.
- In the development of the Strategic Plan, the Groote Eylandt community has provided the ALC with three key guiding vision statements:
- Protect, maintain and promote Anindilyakwa culture;
- Invest in the present to build a self-sufficient future;
- Create pathways for youth to stand in both worlds.
Projects
About this project Little Paradise Logistics Camp is one of four critical investments made to facilitate development of the area. The camp will house the many contractors required to clear land and build the supporting infrastructure
About this project A large-scale renewables program will be undertaken to move away from fossil fuels as a source of power. This will see a major investment in a solar farm/batteries in the Little Paradis area plus micro-solar farms operating on Winchelsea Island.
About this project Located in the Little Paradise area will be the new marina. An essential part of the supply chain, this “linking asset” connects Darwin to Groote Island and facilitates movement of workers between Groote Island and Winchelsea Island.
About this project The roads on Groote Island are not vehicle friendly. Tyres, batteries and windows are frequently replaced by car owners. With no central car service facility available often cars end up being abandoned while waiting for parts. An early investment by GHAC will be in a vehicles service facility to carry a base inventory of car parts for vehicles. Located at the service facility will be car-crushing equipment to enable unused vehicles to be stripped of any usable parts and then crushed and exported back to Darwin as scap metal. Located at the Malakala Community the Vehicle Service Facility will carry spare parts and recycle unwanted vehicles.
About this project A 900 year history of trading Trepang (sea cucumber) between Groote Island and S.E. Asia gives proves that it is possible to build a long term and sustainable aquaculture enterprise. Three main species have been identified for commercialisation trials. These are the Rock lobster, Trepang (Sandfish) and Oysters (Blacklip). The strip-mining method on Winchelsea will result in over 190 ponds suitable for growing out the hatchlings that will be nurtured in the hatcheries in the Little Paradise area.
About this project Protecting culture can be achieved through tourism. Bringing tourists to the island will allow Anindilyakwa culture to be showcased and protected. GHAC are targeting the high-end tourist who wishes to embrace the local culture as well as take time off to truly unwind far away from the bustling cities they come from and get back to a nature. The private five-star accommodation will be located on an escarpment with unobstructed views of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
About this project Historically there has always been a shortage of housing for essential workers on Groote with the flow on effect being vacant positions including age care facilities, schools and the hospitals. GHAC are in the process of developing a large residential development to house these essential workers plus to provide accommodation for the workers, and their families, require to operate the many commercial activities. Developing a new residential estate is an important component for the success of the LDMA and the Future Groote economy. A new estate offering a range of appealing housing styles and residential amenities comparable to other regional centers across Australia will help attract and retain critical workers and their families to the Groote Archipelago. Critically, the main demand from Government departments is for health sector employees. Like many Indigenous communities, the Anindilyakwa are faced with chronic health issues that require ongoing medical [...]
About Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd (Winchelsea) is a joint venture between the Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC) and AUS China International Mining Pty Ltd. It was established in 2018 and the project is part of a comprehensive economic strategy to enhance Groote’s Future Fund to maintain important economic, cultural and community programs for the island’s people permanently into the future. Winchelsea will be an Aboriginal owned and operated mining venture. The Groote Eylandt archipelago was declared the Anindilyakwa Operations Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in 2006 and is administered by the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC). https://wmining.com.au/about-us/ Our Location The Winchelsea Mine project is located on Winchelsea “Akwamburrkba” Island on the western side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, in the Northern Territory, Australia. Winchelsea Island is approximately 60km2 in size and lies less than 500m north of the much larger Groote Eylandt (where South 32 – [...]
About this project While a preference is to maximise the number of people living on Groote, there will always be a need for a large workers village to accommodate fly-in fly-out workers for the Winchelsea mine and other enterprises. Located close to the Little Paradise Marina for quick access to the ferries, the workers village will provide quality accommodation for its workers and give them access to the nearby bar and restaurant.
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