Large Crown land parcel at Port Stephens returned to Aboriginal community

The Minns Labor Government has granted an Aboriginal land claim that will see a large parcel of land in Port Stephens returned to the local Aboriginal community.

The Worimi Aboriginal Land Council will take ownership of the 10.69 hectare plot of land at Lemon Tree Passage. The site is predominately bushland on the corner of Oyster Farm Road and Lemon Tree Passage Road near picturesque Tilligerry Creek.

The land will be returned as freehold land to Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, who will work with the local Aboriginal community and Port Stephens Council to determine future use of the site.

Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, the Act recognises the impact of past government decisions which resulted in the amount of land set aside for Aboriginal people progressively reduced without compensation.

The Act aims to provide a system by which some unused Crown land could be returned to Aboriginal ownership provided it is not being used, occupied, or likely to be needed for an essential public purpose.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said:

“The Aboriginal Land Rights Act is important legislation that recognises the rights of Aboriginal people in NSW, that land was traditionally owned and occupied by Aboriginal people, and is of spiritual, social, cultural and economic importance to Aboriginal people.

“The transfer of this large parcel of land to Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council will allow our local Aboriginal community to maintain spiritual and cultural connections to the land for generations to come.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“I am pleased to see this large plot of land in idyllic Port Stephens 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.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said:

“For more than 40 years the Aboriginal Land Rights Act has granted the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils the right to lodge land claims on Crown land.

“The granting of this land to the Worimi Aboriginal Land Council will help enable the support of economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes for this community, which are key outcomes for closing the gap.”