Hope Vale land handover creates new opportunities for Traditional Owners

The Palaszczuk Government today transferred several properties in the south-eastern area of Cape York Peninsula covering 54,500 hectares to their Aboriginal Traditional Owners: The Balnggarr, Binthi, Nhirrbanh, Wundal and Wunuurr peoples.

Delivering the title deeds at a handover ceremony, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt said the transfer would give great benefits to the people of Cape York Peninsula and the local economy.

“Today’s land transfer is a significant milestone as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s ongoing commitment to return homelands, create opportunities for economic development and enhance employment opportunities for Aboriginal people," Mr Pitt said.

“The new Biniirr National Park will protect a diverse range of habitats including vine forests in the deep gullies and woodlands which are restricted to the escarpment country.

“Biniirr is the local word for the Cooktown Ironwood Tree, a species that holds special significance to the Traditional Owners of this land.

“Almost half the land transferred to the Waarnthuurr-iin Aboriginal Corporation and the Binthi Land Holding Group Aboriginal Corporation will become national parklands which the state would jointly manage.”

From today, there will be a total of 22 Aboriginal owned national parks on Cape York Peninsula covering an area of almost two million hectares.

Mr Pitt also announced that that the government would provide $100,000 annually for the management of the land.

“We have also committed an additional $10,000 to raise the skills and qualifications of the Traditional Owners who will manage the park,” Mr Pitt said.

“We are determined to create new opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to participate economically and if we can do that by involving them in the care of their own country, then this is a terrific win for everyone.

“For thousands of years before Europeans arrived, generations of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders cared for the lands and seas of our country and I want to see more Indigenous Queenslanders continuing that ancient tradition in modern context by empowering them to manage protected areas and species in their regions.

“This land handover marks the end of a lengthy consultation process and I would like to thank and applaud the Traditional Owners for their patience, their hard work and their dedication in enabling today’s events to become a reality.”

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