Negotiations on two native title applications from the Bularnu Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru people of north-west Queensland took a step forward today with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with councils in the region.
Boulia shire, Cloncurry shire and Mt Isa city councils met Bularnu Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru representatives in Mt Isa to sign the MoU, which sets out how native title interests will be negotiated and steps they’ll take to develop an indigenous land use agreement (ILUA).
Future discussions, which also involve the applicants’ native title service provider (Queensland South Native Title Services), will look at possible benefits for the parties, such as agreements giving councils use of some land for public purposes and protection for cultural heritage sites.
The native title applications are the Bularnu Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru People 1, filed on 6 February 1997 for 22,194sq km of land in the Boulia, Cloncurry and Mt Isa local government areas. The Bularnu Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru People 2 application was filed on 12 March 2002 and relates to 1746sq km of land in the Boulia and Cloncurry local government areas.
Tribunal member Gaye Sculthorpe said the MoU set out protocols agreed to by the parties that would make negotiations as effective and efficient as possible.
“The MoU demonstrates the commitment from the Indigenous groups and the local councils to continue their negotiations in an efficient and timely manner and sets out the ground rules, general strategies, agenda and timeframe to complete the process,” Ms Sculthorpe said.
The MoU provides the parties with a framework for discussions about their respective rights and interests and how their aspirations and future requirements for the area can coexist.
Boulia Mayor Cr Rick Britton said the aim was to achieve agreed native title outcomes through mediation. “We think an agreement can be reached which enables the peaceful coexistence of all interests in land, including native title rights, local government interests and the rights and interests of the general public,” he said.
Ms Sculthorpe said both the councils and the Bularnu Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru people would benefit from their cooperative approach and had made a positive start to achieving a successful outcome. |