SANTS welcomes the eighth native title determination in South Australia

South Australian Native Title Services today welcomes the Gawler Ranges native title consent determination.

At a federal court hearing at Paney in the Gawler Ranges National Park, north of Wudinna, South Australia, Justice Mansfield made a consent determination to recognise the non-exclusive native title rights and interests of the Gawler Ranges claimants. Their claim was first made in 1997 and the determination covers an area of approximately 35,000 square kilometres of primarily pastoral lease and national park lands.

It is the fourth consent determination for 2011, following Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara in May, The First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee Region in November and the Eringa and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi consent determinations last week.

It is also the most comprehensive native title settlement in South Australia so far as it resolves all issues arising from the native title claim for the State Government and other respondent parties.

SANTS CEO, Parry Agius said he is extremely pleased with what has been achieved in native title this year.

“Today’s determination is a great achievement for the claimants of the Gawler Ranges. It has been a long road for the community members involved and through their commitment and efforts they have been successful in having their rights and interests recognised. ”

“There have been some significant developments in native title in South Australia this year and this determination is a further example of what can be achieved through negotiation. It represents the closing of a momentous year for native title in South Australia and is a cause for celebration.” 

The consent determination gives the Gawler Ranges claimants non-exclusive native title rights to access, hunt, fish, camp, gather and use the natural resources, undertake cultural activities, conduct ceremonies and meetings, and protect places of cultural and religious significance.

In conjunction with the consent determination, the Gawler Ranges claim group also signed an indigenous land use agreement with the SA Government settling all compensation issues arising from their claim and a further three indigenous land use agreements with the Government  in relation to the national parks within the claim area. These agreements also include co-management arrangements for the Gawler Ranges National Park and Lake Gairdner National Park.