The celebration of NAIDOC Week this week follows last month’s 40th anniversary of the commencement of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.
Since Monday 10 June 1983, a total of 4,396 land claims have been granted or partly granted by Crown Lands, and 168,438 hectares of land has been returned to Aboriginal land councils.
So far in 2022/23, Crown Lands has assessed 596 land claims with 403 granted in whole or in part, and 3,932 hectares of land returned to 56 different Aboriginal land councils. Some recently approved land claims have included:
* 2 blocks of land covering 209.2 hectares at Miandetta will be returned to Nyngan Local Aboriginal Land Council;
* 88.5 hectares of bushland, formerly part of Kingsgate Mines, bordering the Yarrow River will be returned to Glen Innes Local Aboriginal Land Council;
* 3 blocks of land with a combined size of 6.47 hectares around Narromine will be returned to Narromine Local Aboriginal Land Council; and
* 1082 square metres of land adjoining Hay Courthouse including an unoccupied 3-bedroom former residence returned to Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council.
According to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils have a right to lodge land claims under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, which are assessed to statutory criteria to determine if the land is lawfully used or occupied or needed for an essential public purpose.
““If the land is not occupied or needed the claim can be granted, which supports the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal communities,” Mr Harris said.
To the Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper the land claims have delivered fantastic results to local communities across the State.”
Mr Kamper said that as land is not just a physical asset but also deeply connected to cultural identity and spiritual beliefs.
“Crown Lands is working closely with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils to deliver tangible outcomes for Aboriginal communities and peoples.”
