QLD: State s first indigenous land use agreements

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
QLD: State s first indigenous land use agreements

BRISBANE, Aug 25 AAP - Two areas of land under native title claims will be converted for
other use under Queensland's first Indigenous Land Use agreements.

The Mackay Surf Club will build a new club house on one parcel and the other will become
parkland at Mackay Harbour Beach.

Parties to the agreements are the state government, the Mackay City Council, the surf
lifesaving club and the Birri Gubba, Wiri/Yuwiberra, Yuibera and Wirri/Yuwiberra people.

Premier Peter Beattie told state parliament: "This is yet another example of how native
title matters can be resolved through consensus and agreement as opposed to confrontation and
litigation."

National Native Title Tribunal registrar Chris Doepel said the two agreements were approved
yesterday after a three-month notification period.

There are now four agreements in Australia, one in New South Wales between a gold mining
company and the local Aborigines, and the other in the Northern Territory.

"Once registered, an indigenous land use agreement is binding on all native title holders
in the area, whether they were signatories or not," Mr Doepel said.

He said the flexible procedures allowed parties to tailor their agreements to suit their
local circumstances.

"There is now increasing recognition that voluntary agreements are the best way to resolve
native title issues," Mr Doepel said.

AAP sd/geb/dmc/br

KEYWORD: TITLE

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