Arakwal Indigenous Land Use Agreement
A logo that represents the Byron Bay Arakwal people's connection to the land and sea.
The Arakwal Indigenous Land Use Agreement, registered on 28 August 2001, is the result of seven years of consultations between the Byron Bay Arakwal People, a range of community groups, the Byron Shire Council and the NSW Government through the NPWS and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.
One of the outcomes of the Arakwal ILUA is the creation of, and funding for Arakwal National Park, which is jointly managed by the Byron Bay Arakwal People and the NPWS.
The Arakwal National Park Management Committee, made up of three Byron Bay Arakwal people and representatives of the NPWS and the shire, meets regularly to advise the NPWS on the management of the park. The committee has considered a number of issues including:
- employment and training
- access and visitor use and
- weed and pest management
- Arakwal people have been involved in the development of fire, pest and communication plans for Arakwal National Park
- Arakwal people are employed as rangers and trainee rangers.
The Arakwal ILUA states that, subject to the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the plan of management for the park, native title holders will have access to the park for: - the protection and conservation of areas of cultural heritage
- the conduct of ceremonies under traditional law and custom
- the gathering of material for traditional medicines and ceremonies
- fishing and hunting.
The Arakwal Corporation (the native title holders), must be consulted on any contracts or tendering processes and must be given opportunity to comment on the preparation, implementation and amendment of the plan of management, the construction of public works, infrastructure, facilities or repair or demolition work on the park.
The agreement also includes a number of provisions regarding cultural activities, hunting and gathering and fishing. For example, the plan of management for the park must provide for studying the threat hunting and gathering by native title claimants poses to endangered species, and monitoring the exercise of those rights.
Comments from the committee
Mrs Yvonne Stewart, Chairperson and Arakwal representative on the Committee, "The joint managemnet of Arakwal and other National Parks ensures that Arakwal people have a say in management of the land."
Mrs Lorna Kelly, Elder & representative on the Committee at the celebration of the Arakwal ILUA October 2001, "My family and I were forced from our home over fifty years ago, today we're back".
Since the establishment of the park, staff have been employed and working on a number of projects:
- The Joint Management Committee has been established and is meeting monthly to consider management programs and community issues. The Committee has representation from the Byron Bay Arakwal people, NPWS and Byron Shire Council.
- A logo has been developed that represents the Byron Bay Arakwal people's connection to the land and sea. This logo has been applied to badges, which will be added to uniforms worn by NPWS staff associated with the park and included on all park signs.
- An Aboriginal Heritage study to further identify the Aboriginal heritage values of the park is underway. This will assist the Management Committee to determine the potential cultural impacts of management proposals and provide information for cultural interpretive programs.
- A wildlife protection Recovery Plan is being prepared for the Byron Bay dwarf graminoid clay heath, an endangered ecological community in the north-western part of Arakwal National Park. This plan will identify actions recessary to assist the recovery of this plant community that is also habitat for an endangered orchid.
- A fox monitoring and control program has been undertaken with the assistance from the Tweed-Lismore Rural Lands Protection Board to reduce fox numbers and their associated impacts on wildlife.
- Weed control and bushland regeneration work has commenced in parts of the park. This planned approach to weed control will assist regeneration of native plan comunities and reduce reinfestation.
- A draft fire management plan is being prepared for the Park and adjoining lands in partnership with the Arakwal Corporation, Byron Shire Council and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.
Documents to download
- Arakwal Indigenous Land Use Agreement (PDF 151 KB)
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