The Federal Court of Australia has ruled in favour of the Waanyi People in a native title case.
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On Wednesday Justice Stephen Burley has determined Waanyi native title exists in two area west of Doomadgee, one from Turn Off Lagoon to the NT border and the other adjacent to the Doomadgee shire border.
The state of Queensland, Burke Shire Council and Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council were named as respondents.
The ruling gives the Waanyi non-exclusive rights to hunt, fish and gather, live on the land, to camp and to erect shelters, light fires for cooking and heating, conduct religious, spiritual and ceremonial activities, be buried, maintain areas of importance and take, share and exchange natural resources from the area.
J. Burley ruled there were no native title rights in minerals or petroleum on the site.
Waanyi PBC chair Alec Doomadgee said the future looked bright for the Waanyi people after the ruling.
"Powerful leadership with intelligent strategic planning has given us direction and purpose," Mr Doomadgee said.
"The new Waanyi Native Title determination and Waanyi Rangers program gives us a foundation to build our dreams."
The case was brought in 2018 following an earlier successful native title application for 17,900 sq km judged in 2010 which included Boodjamulla National Park.
J. Burley said good faith negotiations between the applicant and Queensland, including the provision of further connection evidence about Waanyi traditional laws and traditional customs has led to an agreement to recognise non-exclusive native title rights of the Waanyi People in a different form to those recognised in the first Waanyi determination.
"This represents a significant achievement by the parties and has paved the way to the current consent determination. The parties are to be congratulated," J. Burley said.
The new application begins 19km northwest of Doomadgee near Nicholson River and Cliffdale Creek. The western-most boundary adjoins the Queensland - Northern Territory border. The eastern and south-eastern boundaries adjoin the 2010 native title area.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
