Two northern New South Wales native title applications have taken a step closer to mediation with public notices issued inviting affected landholders and other interest holders to consider registering for talks.
National Native Title Tribunal State Manager Andrew Solomon said in each case, the native title claimants had asked for their traditional rights to be recognised over the areas.
"The first step in trying to settle these applications is to hold mediation meetings aimed at reaching voluntary agreements that respect everyone's rights and interests," he said.
"The law is clear that native title cannot take away the valid rights and interests of other citizens, including lease or licence holders.
"But these landholders and other interest holders may want to be involved in working out how their rights can sit along side those of indigenous traditional owners."
Mr Solomon said continued public access to, and enjoyment of, national parks, beaches, waterways and other public places was guaranteed by law.
The applications advertised were:
* Yaegl, Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr: (Shire of Maclean) - the application area is primarily the waters of the Clarence River below the bridge at Harwood and estuarine waters to the river mouth including the water within the breakwalls and the Woloweyah Estuary. It also includes the river banks, beds, shoals, sands, reefs and tributaries.
* Bandjalang People #2: (local government areas of Lismore, Richmond Valley, Copmanhurst and Maclean) - the application is between Casino in the north, Grafton in the south and Iluka and Evans Head in the east.
All the applications excluded private freehold land, which was not claimable.
People with affected interests had until 20 June 2001 to register if they wanted to be involved in the proceedings. |