Indigenous land use agreement signed over Ipswich

Local government planning and land management in one of Queensland's fastest growing regions are set to benefit from the signing of an indigenous land use agreement today.

Native title claimants the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people, and the Ipswich City Council have spent two years negotiating an agreement dealing with future infrastructure development, cultural heritage issues and community relations.

The entire Ipswich City Council region is covered by the group's native title claim, which was lodged in 2003 over a 1,204 sq km area in south-east Queensland.

Tribunal Member, Neville MacPherson, who mediated between the parties, said the groups had signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2006 that set out the framework for the ILUA negotiations.

‘Through this planned approach and a willingness to negotiate the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people and the Ipswich City Council have successfully settled a range of land use issues and have built stronger community relations along the way,’ he said.

‘This agreement, over one of Queensland's most rapidly growing regions, is a significant step forward for the Ipswich City Council and the traditional owners as both parties now have certainty about their respective rights in the area and how this land will be managed.’

‘The ILUA is also a milestone for the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people as they work towards attaining legal recognition of their native title rights in south-east Queensland.’

‘The entire community will benefit from better planning and better protection and management of land in the region,’ Mr MacPherson said.

*Indigenous land use agreements are agreements about the use and management of land and waters, made between one or more Indigenous groups and other people.

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