Fortescue has become the third party to appeal a Federal Court decision ordering it to pay $150.3 million to Yindjibarndi traditional owners in Western Australia. The award relates to the construction and operation of four iron-ore mines without the group’s permission and is described by ABC News as Australia’s largest native title compensation payout.

The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) and the WA government filed their own appeals late last month. The three proceedings challenge aspects of Justice Stephen Burley’s judgment, but no date has been set for them to be heard.

A Fortescue spokesperson said the company had lodged a cross-appeal after the other filings to protect its legal position. The company said the appeal repeated arguments made at trial and sought clarification about parts of the judgment that it considered inconsistent with existing legal principles and precedent.

Fortescue said it had paid the full award within 24 hours of the judgment because it wanted the money to reach the Yindjibarndi community quickly. The company also said the payment had not ended the dispute and that it had always wanted to resolve the long-running matter.

Justice Burley found that Fortescue had destroyed at least 124 spiritually significant sites and permanently changed the landscape through water extraction. The award included $150 million for cultural loss, $150,000 for economic loss and compound interest. Fortescue’s Solomon Hub occupies about 135 square kilometres of Yindjibarndi exclusive native title land.

YNAC’s appeal is expected to challenge findings on both cultural and economic loss. Its lawyers will also renew arguments that Fortescue funded a breakaway native title group, divided the Yindjibarndi people and damaged their ability to conduct traditional ceremonies. YNAC had initially sought about $1.8 billion, using what it described as an industry-standard royalty rate.

The WA government has argued that the cultural-loss compensation was “manifestly excessive” and that the judgment did not adequately explain the amount awarded. The state previously suggested a cap of $10 million, while Fortescue had put the figure at $8.1 million, according to ABC News.