Cape York land returned to Traditional Owners

Traditional Aboriginal owners in central Cape York will have more economic opportunities and greater control of their future after the Queensland Government transferred 38,000 hectares of land to its traditional owners, the Thaypan people.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Glen Elmes said today’s transfer of land at Mary Valley between Laura and Coen would give its traditional owners the ability to return to country.

“This transfer will also provide significant opportunities for economic development including grazing, resource use and tourism,” Mr Elmes said.

“This change affirms the Newman Government’s commitment to grow our four-pillar economy by working with Cape York people to provide economic opportunities while protecting the region’s iconic natural areas and waterways.

“Mary Valley is a living cultural landscape rich in traditional and contemporary significance for the Thaypan people.

“The Queensland Government is working with Aboriginal organisations and local councils to ensure Aboriginal people have a bigger say in their economic future and in managing their lands and environment.

“Staff in my department’s Cape York Tenure Resolution Unit have done a tremendous job in bringing the negotiation process to a conclusion after several years.”

Mr Elmes thanked the land’s traditional owners, the Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and Cape York Land Council for their work towards reaching today’s outcome.

Background:

About a quarter of the area (8,550 hectares) will be declared as Payrrape Nature Refuge, which will protect the sandstone escarpments providing habitat for threatened species such as ghost bats, Cape York rock wallabies and northern quolls.

Traditional owners and the Queensland Government have entered into a conservation agreement for the protection of Payrrape Nature Refuge and will work together to protect this special area.

The Morehead River corridor and the numerous lakes and wetlands will sustain populations of species through the dry season including the near-threatened black-necked stork, radjah shelduck and threatened plant species.

The Queensland Government is currently negotiating for the handover to Traditional Owners of five properties adjacent to Mary Valley shown on the attached map.

[ENDS] 14 August 2014

Media Contact:          Peter McCarthy (0408) 835 548

Editors' Note:  Images of the Mary Valley landscape and the black-necked stork are available upon request.