|
The National Native Title Tribunal today moved to start mediating ten native title applications in Queensland to help people reach negotiated agreements.
Queensland State Manager Mr Simon Nish said the Tribunal had placed advertisements in The Courier Mail and local newspapers giving interest holders three months to register as parties if they wanted to join the mediation.
Mr Nish said native title did not threaten the valid rights and interests of other citizens, including private freehold land owners, pastoral leaseholders, and the rights of the public to access beaches and national parks.
"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 Nish.
"Any interest holder wanting to join the mediation needs to contact the Federal Court in Brisbane before 22 November 2000. The Court will then decide who to formally accept as parties and when the Tribunal should start the mediation meetings."
The advertised applications were:
- Muluridji application in the Mareeba area, including Hann Tableland National Park;
- Ankamuthi application north of Mapoon, on the Cape York Peninsula;
- Juunyjuwarra application near Numburra, in the Shire of Cook;
- Kaanju/Umpila near Moojeeba, in the Shire of Cook;
- Kudjala, Jirandali and Mitjumba People's application over Porcupine Gorge National Park in the Shire of Flinders;
- Kudjala and Jirandali People's application over White Mountains National Park in the Shires of Dalrymple and Flinders;
- Santo Clan of the Kudjala People over Great Basalt Wall National Park, near Mt Hope in the Shire of Dalrymple;
- Kudjala People's application over Doongara Holdings near Mount Ross in the Shire of Dalrymple;
- Woolgar Group's application over Middlepark Holdings, southeast of Gilberton in the Shires of Croydon and Richmond;
- Kombumerri People's application #2 over certain lots on The Spit, in the City of the Gold Coast.
The applications did not cover any private freehold land.
Mr Nish said that the applications were not new but they were being advertised for the first time.
Further information was available by contacting the NNTT on free call 1800 640 501.
|