The Uluru Rent Money Community Development Project has resulted in around $750,000 annually of the rent monies from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (UKTNP) – leased on Aboriginal land – going towards targeted community development projects in that region.
Traditional landowners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta agreed to this alternative approach to provide a better balance between the rights of individual traditional landowners and the urgent community development needs of their communities.
The key to the success of this project is the community meetings and smaller consultations run by the CLC, at which the park traditional owners and other community members identify their priority needs and develop plans for the use of this funding.
Above: Uluru traditional owners discuss whichcommunity
development
projects they wish to fund form their rent monies
In the case of the Uluru rent monies, traditional owners live in communities in the surrounding region. They have chosen projects for their communities based on the existing need, whether it be a generator, a community car repair workshop or a BMX track for the kids.
The CLC is also working with a core group of committed community members at the community closest to Uluru, Mutitjulu, to progress ideas its residents have had for improvements to their community.
The community will be seeking partnerships with government and other key stakeholders to implement some of these projects.
Through the meetings and consultations people are able to clearly see how their own actions can benefit their communities rather than rely purely on government assistance to effect positive change.
In some of these projects, participation has also provided Aboriginal people with their first real opportunity to take responsibility for their communities in partnership with government.
Over half the UKTNP rent to Aboriginal people is now being spent, or is earmarked for spending on community development projects.
