| Native title claimants and five shire councils in central Queensland have set the ball rolling for negotiations to develop an indigenous land use agreement (ILUA).
Today in Mt Isa, representatives of the Kalkadoon People and the Boulia, Burke, Cloncurry, McKinlay and Mt Isa shire councils signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that commits them to an agreement-making process.
The Kalkadoon People have a native title claim over about 39,090 sq km of pastoral and other leases, reserves and unallocated state land which falls within each of these shires. They are seeking recognition and protection of their native title in this area where the local councils are required to provide infrastructure and services to their communities and use the land for certain public purposes.
The MoU provides the parties with a framework for discussions about their respective rights and interests and how their aspirations and future requirements for the area can co-exist.
National Native Title Tribunal President Graeme Neate, who is assisting the parties to negotiate an ILUA, said that by recognising the value of a cooperative approach and committing to an agreement-making process the parties had made an excellent start to achieving a successful outcome.
“The Kalkadoon People and the shire councils have their specific aspirations for the use of this land, but all want to ensure their rights and interests to this area are respected and protected in the future,” he said.
“By getting together to work out how their rights and interests can co-exist and how they can help one another to create better futures for their communities through a cooperative approach, they’re giving themselves the best chance to have their needs and aspirations met.”
Under the Native Title Act ILUAs are made between one or more native title groups and others about the use and management of land and waters. These agreements set out how people’s rights and interests will work on the ground.
|