Mintabie

History

Aboriginal people were the first people to find opals in the area. During the First World War, they traded in black opals at Coober Pedy. Conditions were harsh. In 1976, with the help of new large machinery, non-Indigenous people came to the area to mine, and a small township was established. At around the same time, Anangu began their struggle for land rights. Consequently, by the time the South Australian Parliament began to seriously consider granting land rights in the area, a growing number of opal miners were setting up operations around Mintabie. In November 1978, a Labor Government under Don Dunstan introduced a Bill to establish Pitjantjatjara land rights. A group of miners from Mintabie voiced strong opposition to the Bill, warning that the proposed legislation would "...act against future opal prospecting and mining ... tend to hinder any other industry set up by people other than Aboriginals... [and] give no real benefit to the Aboriginals but ... cause plenty of friction with the rest of the population. The Bill was still before Parliament when a state election was called. After the election, Anangu entered into a fresh round of negotiations with the newly elected Liberal government, under premier David Tonkin. On 2 October 1980 the Pitjantjatjara Council formally reached an agreement with the government on the provisions of a new Bill. Introduced into Parliament on 23 October 1980, the "Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Bill 1980" proposed granting Anangu title to a large area of land, which included the township of Mintabie. The Bill recognised that opal mining would continue at Mintabie and included provisions to control that activity. Certain occupancy rights were to be provided to prospectors but these would be balanced with processes that Anangu could…

Geography

Mintabie is situated west of the Stuart Highway and about northwest of Marla Mintabie sits in a geographical basin. It is therefore not surprising that there is a lake basin near Mintabie. The Mintabie Miners Progress Association describes the lake as follows: The lake at Mintabie is fed by many small surrounding creeks. In the past 15 years, it has been filled twice. The first time was in 1988, when higher than normal rainfall filled the lake to capacity. Although the rainfall returned to normal, the lake retained water for approximately three years. Rains in 2000 again filled the lake. Today the lake has once again dried up awaiting another big rain. The parcel of land on which Mintabie sits is leased by the State government from Anangu. The original township lease expired in 2002. On 3 December 2009, the South Australian Parliament passed the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights (Mintabie) Amendment Act 2009. This legislation creates the framework for a new lease.

Most-observed species

• Red-capped Robin

  Petroica goodenovii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  3
• Bourke's Parrot

  Neopsephotus bourkii (Gould, 1841) · Aves
  2
• Budgerigar

  Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw, 1805) · Aves
  2
• Redthroat

  Pyrrholaemus brunneus Gould, 1841 · Aves
  2
• Splendid Fairywren

  Malurus splendens (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) · Aves
  2
• Crested Bellbird

  Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  2
• Slaty-backed Thornbill

  Acanthiza robustirostris Milligan, 1903 · Aves
  2
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  2