A gas exploration company says it may use security guards to ensure it can access a remote Northern Territory cattle station protected by pastoralists and Indigenous Traditional Owners. 

Traditional Owners joined staff at Tanumbirini station, 735km southeast of Darwin in the Beetaloo Basin, to monitor Sweetpea Petroleum. 

They said they were safeguarding water supplies and sacred sites on the property. Sweetpea is a Tamboran Resources subsidiary.

Representatives said legal action would be taken to recover more than $40,000 per day from the station owner, cattle baron Rallen Australia, and any person that “aids” the owner if its fracking operations were delayed. 

“Sweetpea intends to take all reasonable precautions in ensuring that its intended access to Tanumbirini Station proceeds unhindered,” the company said in a legal letter to Rallen.

“Those precautions may include the engagement of relevant department officials and observers as well as security or law enforcement agents. 

“We trust in those circumstances no one acting on behalf of Rallen, or at Rallen’s behest, will act in any manner that is wrongful or without lawful foundation…