Rox Resources Secures Native Title Agreement With Badimia Barna at Youanmi

Rox Resources Clears Major Hurdle at Youanmi Gold Mine With Native Title Agreement

Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) has executed a binding Native Title Mining Agreement with the Badimia Barna Native Title Claim Applicant, covering the full project area of its Youanmi Gold Mine in Western Australia. The Rox Resources Youanmi Gold Mine native title agreement with Badimia Barna removes a significant regulatory and social prerequisite for project advancement, establishing the legal and cooperative framework Rox needs to continue progressing toward gold production.

According to the announcement released on 19 August 2026, the agreement provides consent for the grant and renewal of all future project tenements, along with all future approvals required for mining, project and exploration activities across the company's tenement holdings.

Securing native title holder consent is not a procedural checkbox for mining companies operating in Western Australia. It is a foundational legal requirement that determines whether a project can proceed at all, making this a material milestone for Rox's development timeline.

"The signing of this Agreement is an important milestone for the Youanmi Gold Mine and reflects the positive relationship that has been developed between the Rox team and the Badimia people. This Agreement provides a clear framework for cooperation as we progress Youanmi towards development and create opportunities for meaningful local participation and economic benefits." — Managing Director & CEO Phill Wilding

What the Agreement Actually Covers

The Native Title Mining Agreement, entered into by Rox Resources and its wholly owned subsidiary Rox (Murchison) Pty Ltd with the authorised representatives of the Badimia Barna Native Title Claim Applicant (WAD 258/2024), is broad in scope and durable in design.

Rather than addressing a single tenement or a narrow set of approvals, it is structured to cover both current and future project needs across Rox's tenement holdings in the defined project area.

The key provisions of the agreement include:

1. Tenure consent — The Badimia Barna Native Title Claim Applicant has granted consent for the grant and renewal of all future project tenements, as well as all future approvals required for mining, project and exploration activities across Rox's tenement portfolio.
2. Cultural heritage management — A framework for heritage protection and cultural awareness initiatives has been established, recognising the significance of country to the Badimia people.
3. Employment and economic participation — The agreement creates pathways for Badimia people and businesses through employment, training and contracting opportunities tied to the project.
4. Project liaison committee — A dedicated committee will be established to support ongoing engagement between Rox and the Badimia community as the project develops.
5. Financial benefits — The agreement includes a package of financial benefits comprising an upfront payment and a production-based royalty payable to the Badimia people once gold production commences.

The Badimia traditional owners reportedly thanked Rox for their respectful approach throughout negotiations. They noted that acknowledgement of the importance of cultural heritage by a mining company was refreshing, and specifically welcomed Rox's proactive support of Badimia artists and programmes engaging young people.

Understanding Native Title Mining Agreements: Why Does This Matter for Investors?

What Is a Native Title Mining Agreement?

In Australia, native title refers to the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in land and waters, recognised under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). For mining companies operating in Western Australia, obtaining the consent of native title holders or applicants is a legal requirement before certain tenements can be granted or renewed. Failing to secure this consent can delay or entirely prevent a project from proceeding.

A Native Title Mining Agreement is a formal, binding contract between a mining company and the relevant native title applicants or holders. It sets out the conditions under which mining activities may proceed, including financial arrangements, heritage protections and community benefits.

Why Does It Matter to Investors?

• Without a binding agreement, mining tenure cannot be granted or renewed, meaning a project cannot legally advance to construction or production.
• Agreements of this nature are often difficult to negotiate and can take considerable time to finalise. Rox has completed this process, addressing a risk that many junior mining projects continue to carry.
• The inclusion of a production-based royalty aligns the Badimia community's financial interests with the project's success, consequently supporting a constructive long-term relationship.
• Coverage of both existing and all future tenements within the defined project area reduces Rox's exposure to tenure consent risk as the project expands.

A Long-Term Relationship, Not Just a One-Off Approval

What distinguishes this agreement from a narrower, transactional consent is its explicit long-term structure. The establishment of a project liaison committee indicates that engagement between Rox and the Badimia people is intended to be ongoing and institutionalised, rather than confined to the approvals process alone.

This kind of relationship-based approach carries practical implications for project delivery:

• Reduced risk of community-based objections or delays during construction and operations
• A more stable social licence to operate, which can support smoother interactions with regulators and government agencies
• A potential workforce pipeline through Badimia employment and training commitments that could contribute to staffing the mine once operational

The tone of the Badimia traditional owners' comments, as reported by Rox, suggests a constructive working relationship has developed through the negotiation process — of the kind that tends to hold up through the more demanding phases of project development.

Where Youanmi Stands on the Development Timeline

Rox has described the execution of this agreement as a key project milestone. Furthermore, the company states it is continuing to progress the Youanmi Gold Mine toward delivering gold in mid-CY2027.

With the agreement now executed, near-term focus is expected to remain on advancing the project through the remaining regulatory and development steps required ahead of that target.

Why Investors Should Keep Rox Resources on Their Radar

The execution of a Native Title Mining Agreement is not typically the kind of announcement that drives immediate share price movement. It is, however, the type of de-risking event that often separates projects that proceed from those that stall. For Rox, this agreement addresses one of the most consequential non-technical risks associated with Youanmi.

Consider what this agreement now provides:

• Legal certainty over current and future tenure, reducing a potential blocker to project approvals
• Community alignment, with a framework tying the Badimia people's financial participation to production outcomes
• Operational continuity, with cultural heritage and engagement processes institutionalised rather than managed on an ad hoc basis
• Broader stakeholder support, demonstrating that the project has engagement from the relevant native title group

Rox is advancing a gold project at a time when gold prices have attracted considerable investor attention across the sector. The company's ability to secure this agreement while maintaining what both parties describe as a constructive relationship reflects on management's capacity to progress projects through their social and regulatory dimensions, not solely their technical ones.

With a gold production target of mid-CY2027 now supported by this clearer development pathway, the Rox Resources Youanmi Gold Mine native title agreement with Badimia Barna represents a foundational milestone that investors may wish to monitor closely as further announcements are made.

Key takeaway: Rox Resources has secured a binding Native Title Mining Agreement covering the full Youanmi Gold Mine project area, addressing tenure consent risk and establishing a long-term community partnership framework. This clears one of the more significant non-technical prerequisites for advancing toward its mid-CY2027 gold production target. Milestones of this nature are sometimes underappreciated in the short term but can prove foundational to whether a project is ultimately built.

Glossary

• Native title — The recognition under Australian law of the rights and interests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold in land and waters under their traditional laws and customs.
• Native Title Mining Agreement — A binding contract between a mining company and native title applicants or holders that sets out the terms under which mining activities may proceed, including financial arrangements, heritage protections and community participation.
• Tenement — A defined area of land over which a mining or exploration licence is granted, giving the holder the right to carry out specific activities such as exploration or mining.
• Production-based royalty — A payment made to an agreed party, in this case the Badimia people, calculated as a proportion of the value or volume of minerals produced from the project.
• Social licence to operate — The ongoing acceptance of a company's activities by local communities and other stakeholders, which, while not a formal legal document, can materially affect a project's ability to proceed without disruption.

Want to Know More About Rox Resources and the Youanmi Gold Mine?

With a binding Native Title Mining Agreement now in place and a gold production target of mid-CY2027 on the horizon, Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) is advancing through a critical phase of development at Youanmi. Investors looking to better understand the company's project pipeline, development strategy, and what this milestone means for the path ahead can find further information directly at roxresources.com.au.