Victoria's first local government native title agreement finalised 

The National Native Title Tribunal has registered the ILUA between the Latji Latji and Wergaia native title groups and the Mildura Rural City Council, finalising the agreement that allows the council to proceed with development while providing employment and training opportunities for the native title claimants.

Mildura Rural City Council chief executive officer, Phil Pearce, said the ILUA also cleared the way for all future development in the agreement area which included Mildura's river frontage.

"It's given some certainty to the council for other river-front development and it's strengthened our relations with the native title claimants in the district," he said.

Mr Pearce said the 150 berth marina was expected to provide 200 ongoing jobs in the district as well as being a drawcard for tourists.

"It's a high profile, high-value development that will provide a new standard of accommodation in Mildura for visitors as well as apartments and townhouses overlooking the marina."

Tribunal case manager, Chris Loorham, said local governments had played a key role in native title negotiations around the country and the Mildura ILUA was another example of what could be achieved when groups chose to resolve native title issues through agreement.

"The registration of this agreement demonstrates that in Victoria people can resolve native title issues outside of a court process," he said.

• ILUAs are voluntary, legally binding agreements about the use and management of land, made between Indigenous groups and others with interests in a particular area. ILUAs are practical and flexible as they are developed to suit the different needs of the groups and the land use issues they're working through.