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A New South Wales native title application has taken a step closer to mediation with public notices issued inviting interest-holders to register for talks.
National Native Title Tribunal State Manager, Andrew Solomon, said that the native title claimants had applied for their traditional rights to be recognised over areas in the Northern Tablelands region of NSW. The application is from Ashford in the north to Bendemeer in the south and from Warialda in the west to near Glenn Innes in the east.
"The first step in determining these applications is to hold mediation meetings aimed at reaching voluntary agreements that respect everyone's rights and interests," he said.
"The law is clear that native title cannot take away the valid rights and interests of other citizens, including lease or licence holders.
"But people or organisations with interests in the areas claimed may want to be involved in working out how their rights may coexist with native title holders."
The application advertised is:
- Nucoorilma Clan of the Gamilaaroy Aboriginal People in the Local Government areas of Armidale Dumaresq, Barraba, Bingara, Guyra, Inverell, Manilla, Parry, Severn, Uralla and Yallaroi.
Not all areas of land and water within the application's external boundary are claimed: for example, the application excludes private freehold land, which is not claimable.
Any person who thinks they may have an interest in the claim has until 4 December 2001 to apply to the District Registrar of the Federal Court to "become a party" to the application. A poster-size map showing the external boundary of the application has been sent to each Local Government office in the area.
Further information is available from the National Native Title Tribunal on freecall 1800 640 501.
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