Mineral Resources to receive $158,000 refund from East Pilbara shire after rate reversal

The East Pilbara shire has committed to repay Mineral Resources close to $158,000 after the state government nullified a Supreme Court judgment that let local councils levy rates on mining companies operating on Crown land. The refund will be sourced from the council's road-maintenance fund, a move that shire president Anthony Middleton warned could reduce service provision across more than 3,000 kilometres of dirt roads.

Mineral Resources declined the shire's request to withdraw the claim and has offered to spread repayment over several years. Remote Aboriginal communities such as Kunawarritji, home to about 70 people, fear the reallocation will worsen already poor road conditions, hindering fuel deliveries and medical access. The shire described the retroactive refund as punitive, noting that most of the money had originally funded road grading due to mining impacts. Separate legal action by Mineral Resources against the Shire of Ashburton over rate increases is also pending.