Traditional land holders in Tennant Creek have signed an agreement to mine Australia’s largest phosphate deposit.

 

Mining company, Minemakers, says their Wonara deposit, located about 250 kilometres east of Tennant Creek, has more than a billion tonnes of rock phosphate.

 

The mining agreement has been signed by traditional owners from the Arawra Aboriginal Corporation.

 

Minemakers hopes to construct a rail spur to Tennant Creek and is considering processing and exporting the ore to Darwin.

 

The Central Land Council told the ABC that the traditional owners will use compensation money to improve local infrastructure nearby, and some in the area would be interested in employment at the mine.

 

China is expected to be the main market for export, which needs Asian security on the project for it to continue.