TAMALA STATION
1313. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
Tamala
station, which has had approximately 6 000 visitors per annum, has had its
request for a new camping licence declined, and it will remain closed
for camping until further notice. Station managers have been advised that they
will need another Indigenous land use agreement that specifically includes the
camping area before any application will be considered.
I ask this question given that the Western
Australian government is promoting holidaying in our own state during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
(1) What was the catalyst for
Tamala station's Indigenous land use agreement to be terminated?
(2) What is the estimated time
frame for Tamala station to regain a camping licence and reopen?
(3) Can the Indigenous land use
agreement process be expedited?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The camping
area operated under the provision of a licence issued by the state over
unallocated crown land adjoining the Tamala pastoral lease. There was no
Indigenous land use agreement associated with this camping area. On 4 December
2018, a native title determination encompassing the area was made by the
Federal Court of Australia. The licence terminated upon the determination of
native title.
(2) The camp site
would be able to reopen only once the pastoral lessee and native titleholders
have reached an Indigenous land use agreement and appropriate tenure has been
granted.
(3) This is
entirely dependent upon the pastoral lessee and the native titleholders. There
are no statutory limits on the time necessary to conclude ILUA negotiations,