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The Central Land Council has congratulated the Ngarinyman, Bilinarra and Malngin people in the north-west of the CLC’s region on the handback of their land in the southern part of the Gregory National Park today.
CLC Director David Ross says the handback of the Park and the subsequent joint management arrangements are extremely significant for people.
Mr Ross said the significance of handing this land back to Aboriginal traditional land owners cannot be overestimated.
“For years people have had to stand on the sidelines while other people made decisions about their traditional country,” he said. “Now, with these joint management arrangements, people will be asked – asked about future developments on their land, about the use of it, about access to it – this is the crux of joint management.
“To be finally recognised as the traditional land owners is an enormous step forward for these peoples.
“In addition, as we have found in other parks which have been handed back in the Central Land Council region, a number of opportunities for employment and involvement have arisen.”
The CLC has just formed a pilot ranger program in Daguragu and it is ready to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Gregory National Park. It is one of the biggest parks in the Northern Territory and so brings with it many opportunities and responsibilities including the protection of sacred sites, weed and fire management and tourism opportunities.
Gregory’s size also offers an excellent environmental opportunity to preserve and research native flora and fauna. With the handback, traditional land owners and rangers will have the chance to lead much of that work.
