The National Native Title Tribunal is advertising a native title application covering more than 1,770 square kilometres in the south west corner of Western Australia, so that people with interests in the area may have an opportunity to participate in talks about the application.
Acting state manager, Mr Athol Prior, said the native title applicants were seeking legal recognition of their native title rights and interests over about 1,773km2 in the south west corner of the state, approximately 24km south-west of Bunbury.
The claimed area covers Busselton, Cape Naturalist, Margaret River and Hamelin Bay and falls within the local government areas of Augusta,-Margaret River, Busselton and Capel.
Not all land and waters within the external boundary may be claimed. For example, the application excludes privately held freehold land within that boundary.
The application, Single Noongar Claim Area 2, overlaps to varying degrees with three other native title claims. It exactly matches the boundaries of the unrepresented Harris family claim, which the Tribunal has registered. The application also overlaps South West Boojarah and a small area of Gnaala Karla Booja.
The Native Title Registrar did not accept Single Noongar Claim Area 2 for registration. Although this application has not been registered, it may still proceed to mediation with the Tribunal and/or a determination in the Federal Court.
Mr Prior said that the key groups that may have an interest in the claimed area would be those with leasehold, mining exploration, petroleum exploration and government interests.
Any person who thinks they may have an interest in the claim has until 16 February 2005 to apply to the District Registrar of the Federal Court to become a party to the application.
Further information is available from the NNTT on freecall 1800 640 501.
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