Wright awaits Hancock handover
Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting is still to hand over the titles to the Rhodes Ridge iron ore project to the heirs of her father's business partner, more than six months after the High Court closed off her last route of appeal in the bitter battle for control of the massive deposit.
After successive Supreme Court victories by Wright Prospecting in the decade-long legal fight, the High Court refused to hear Mrs Rinehart's appeal in September 2013, effectively ending her ownership claim to 25 per cent of Rhodes Ridge, one of the Pilbara's richest undeveloped deposits.
But Wright Prospecting, owned by the heirs of legendary WA prospector Peter Wright, will still need to return to court on April 9 for hearings over the enforcement of orders issued by the Supreme Court in March 2011 and February 2012.
It is understood Wright Prospecting's notice of motion seeks orders that Hancock execute the transfer documents, or that the Supreme Court do so if they refuse.
Details of the court date emerged in a separate legal battle between the feuding families over a Wright Prospecting claim it should be paid royalties from the Hope Downs mine, operated by Rio Tinto and half owned by Hancock.Lawyers for both parties agreed to return to the Supreme Court on April 9 for a directions hearing on the Hope Downs matter.
