Sandstone West land handback heralds new opportunities in Cape York

The Palaszczuk Government has today returned tens of thousands of hectares of land in Cape York to Traditional Owners in a momentous deal.

Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt delivered the title deeds to the Balnggarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation at a ceremony at Battle Camp homestead, north-west of Cooktown.

“Today approximately 37,000 hectares of land - almost the size of Hinchinbrook Island - has been returned to the Balnggarr, Muundhi and Magarmagar peoples,” Mr Pitt said. 

“The return of Aboriginal freehold land and the creation of a new national park means Traditional Owner groups now have new avenues to pursue economic, social and cultural development on their homelands which in turn creates the potential for more jobs and more opportunities.
“These could include tourism, cultural, agricultural and educational prospects ranging from raising cattle for the domestic market, and visiting and living on country, to enterprises involving teaching traditional skills.

“The Sandstone West and recent Sandstone East land dealings demonstrate our commitment to returning homelands, conserving natural and cultural values, creating opportunities for economic development and enhancing employment opportunities for Indigenous Queenslanders living in remote Cape York areas.

“I commend the Balnggarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation for its diligence, commitment and resilience over many years to bring this land back to its people.”

Mr Pitt said this milestone marks the handback of more than 3.4 million hectares of land to Traditional Owners under the Queensland Government’s Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program and that the Sandstone West area held strong historical and cultural significance for Traditional Owners.

“This land, including properties known locally as Battle Camp and Mount Jack, is extremely significant to Traditional Owners,” he said.

“Local stories and history books record a battle in the area between mounted police and Aboriginal people during the 1870s.

“The area encompasses a rich cultural landscape including significant rock art and other archaeological sites, as well as important story places and intangible heritage values; so it’s important that this land is returned to its rightful owners and cared for appropriately.”

“The Queensland Government consulted extensively with the Traditional Owners, Cape York Land Council, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and Cook Shire Council to reach this positive outcome for the area’s conservation, culture and community.”

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef, Steven Miles said a portion of land would become jointly-managed national park.

“Approximately half the land will form the new Ngaynggarr National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land), which is fittingly the traditional language name for the vibrant orange bloom of the scarlet gumtrees,” Dr Miles said.

“This iconic landscape rich in cultural, environmental and ecological significance provides habitat for various animals and plant species including the endangered Greater large-eared horseshoe bat and Coix gasteenii – an endangered grass only otherwise found in Australia along the Normanby River.

“Importantly, this land transfer means custodians with traditional connections to the land will have greater involvement in its care and conservation going forward.

“The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships will work together with the Balnggarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation to protect the area’s natural and cultural values.

“Sustainable land management through continued traditional land management practices including fire, pest and plant control will also help preserve the land for future generations.”

From today, there will be a total of 23 Aboriginal owned and jointly managed national parks on the Cape York Peninsula covering an area of almost two million hectares.

For more information about the Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program visit: www.datsip.qld.gov.au/programs-initiatives/cape-york-peninsula-tenure-resolution-program

Background:

Sandstone West land handback

• Aboriginal freehold land: 20,220 hectares
• Ngaynggarr National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land): 16,490 hectares

= Total of 36,710 hectares of Aboriginal freehold and national park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land)

Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program

As of today the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships’ Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program has created approximately:

• 1,979,760 hectares of national park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land)
• 1,336,950 hectares of unencumbered Aboriginal freehold land
• 105,250 hectares of Resource Reserve

= Total: Approximately 3,421,960 hectares transferred to Aboriginal land.

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