215 hectares of land returned to Aboriginal community

More than 215 hectares of Crown land at Rye Park will be returned to the ownership of the Aboriginal community following successful Aboriginal land claims.

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) assessed two claims that were lodged by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council over a large area of bushland 16 kilometres southeast of Boorowa.

Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils have a right to lodge land claims on Crown land.

Once lodged, land claims must be assessed against non-discretionary statutory criteria in the Act, including whether the land was lawfully used or occupied at the time of the claim, or was needed for an essential public purpose.

If the land is found to be lawfully used, occupied, or likely to be needed for an essential public purpose, the land claim is refused. If a land claim is granted, the Crown land is transferred as freehold land to the ownership of the claimant land council.

Crown Lands Executive Director of Aboriginal Land Strategy Michael Ramalli said:

“The Aboriginal Land Rights Act recognises the impact of past government decisions which resulted in the amount of land set aside for Aboriginal people progressively reduced without compensation, and provides a system by which some unused Crown land can be returned to Aboriginal ownership.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“I am pleased to see this large section of land returned to the ownership and stewardship of the local Aboriginal community.

“The NSW Government is focused on building better communities across NSW and this is great outcome for the local community and another example of how we can deliver positive outcomes in the spirit of the Act.”