Parties invited to negotiate native title in upper Gascoyne region
| 19/10/2005 |
People with an interest an area of land in Western Australia's upper Gascoyne region have an opportunity to respond to a new native title application and take part in any future negotiations to resolve the claim.
The application was accepted for registration by the Registrar of the National Native Title Tribunal and has been advertised in newspapers today so that people who might be affected - including pastoralists and mining and petroleum interests - can apply to the Federal Court to become a party.
Tribunal senior case manager Chris Scoggin said the native title applicants, the Budina People, had asked for their native title rights to be recognised over a 4096 square kilometre area within the Ashburton, Carnarvon and Upper Gascoyne Shire Councils.
The application lies in an area 150 kilometres south-east of Exmouth, between the North West Coastal Highway and the DeGrey-Mullewa Stock Route. This particular area has never been subject to a native title claim before.
Ms Scoggin said becoming a party to a native title claim meant everyone with an interest in the claim area could put forward their views about those interests and how native title may affect them. They might also be invited to take part in any meetings to mediate the settlement of the claim.
‘Sitting down and talking is often the best way to resolve differences and come up with an agreed position everyone can be happy with, ’ she said. ‘It is also an opportunity for people with a common interest to build on their relationships for the future. ’
The Tribunal has also personally notified those parties currently identified by the state government as having an interest within the claim area.
The Yamatji Marlpa Barna Baaba Maaja Aboriginal Corporation is representing the Budina people in their claim.
Any person or organisation with an interest in the claim area has until 1 February 2006 to respond by applying to the Registrar of the Federal Court. Further information is available from the NNTT on freecall 1800 640 501.
|
| Charlie Wilson-Clark |
| 08 9268 7315 |
| 0419 441 504 |
|