Nyiyaparli people seek recognition in the Pilbara region

People with an interest in an area of land in Western Australia's Pilbara region have an opportunity to respond to the Nyiyaparli People's native title application and take part in any future negotiations to resolve the claim.

On 30 September 2005 the Federal Court ordered that the Nyiyaparli application (WAD6280/98) be amended to combine with another application, Nyiyaparli 2.

The combination of the two claims has resulted in an increase of 49 square kilometres to the original application area. The new area is located approximately 70 kilometres north-west of the town of Newman, within the Shire of East Pilbara.

The combined 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 can apply to the Federal Court to become a party.

Becoming a party to a native title claim means everyone with an interest in the claim area can put forward their views about those interests and how native title may affect them.

Any person or organisation with an interest in the claim area has until 31 May 2006 to respond by applying to the Registrar of the Federal Court. Any person who is already a party to the previously notified Nyiyaparli application area becomes a party to the combined application.

Further information is available from the Tribunal on freecall 1800 640 501.

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