The National Native Title Tribunal has moved to start mediating the Walbunja native title application on the New South Wales south coast to help people reach negotiated agreements.
NSW State Manager Mr Andrew Solomon said the Tribunal had placed advertisements in metropolitan and regional newspapers giving interest holders three months to register as parties if they wanted to join the mediation and have a say in the outcome.
The Walbunja application covers crown land and waters between Jervis Bay and Narooma, and extends 200 nautical miles out to sea. The application includes the Budawang, Deua and Morton National Parks, and falls within local government areas of Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven and Tallaganda.
The application does not cover any private freehold land, commercial or residential leases, exclusive agricultural or pastoral leases, or community purpose leases.
Mr Solomon said native title did not threaten the valid rights and interests of other citizens, including private freehold land owners, commercial fishers, and the rights of the public to access beaches, waterways and national parks.
"Native title cannot take away or interfere with people's rights to fish, moor their boats, draw water, or to harvest timber or keep bees in state forests," said Mr Solomon.
"We are advertising these applications so that anyone with an interest in the land or waters subject to the application can be involved in discussions about whether native title exists in the area and if so, how it might be recognised and respected in a way that preserves everyone's interests," said Mr Solomon.
"Any interest holder wanting to join the mediation needs to contact the Federal Court in Sydney before 17 January 2001. The Court will then decide who to formally accept as parties and when the Tribunal should start mediation meetings."
Mr Solomon said people with interests in the area could include, for example, commercial fishers, bee keepers, people with permits to harvest wood from state forests. Interested parties could also include other Aboriginal people who claim native title in the area.
Large maps of the claim area are available for public viewing at:
- Ulladulla Office of Shoalhaven Council;
- Moruya Office of the Eurobodalla Council;
- Braidwood office of Tallaganda Shire Council; and
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal office in Civic, Canberra.
Mr Solomon said while mediation could take some time, it could achieve agreements that respected everyone's rights and interests.
Mr Solomon said that if mediation was unsuccessful, the application would be listed for trial in the Federal Court.
The Walbunja application was lodged on 10 September 1996 on behalf of Walbunja Aboriginal People. It passed the registration test on 29 October 1999. |