22 long years

Photo: ADAM WRIGHT

THE largest parcel of land the State Government has ever handed back to an indigenous community is about to be given to the Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council.

It has been a long time coming, with the land forming three adjoining claims lodged in 1987.

At 20,000 hectares, the huge parcel of land stretches most of the way from Main Road 92 to Yalwal Road west of Nowra.

Announcing the land allocation on Saturday, NSW Premier Nathan Rees said it was “a very significant moment”.

“It makes me proud to see 20,000 hectares of land handed back to the Yuin people on the state’s South Coast,” Mr Rees said.

The land runs along 30 kilometres of Morton National Park’s eastern boundary, including Yarramunmun Creek, Boolijong Creek and parts of the Yerriyong State Forest.

“It’s wonderful news – one of immense significance to Aboriginal people, specifically the Yuin people,” said Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council chairperson Kathleen Davis.

“This announcement brings great joy to our people.”

Ms Davis noted the three land claims had been lodged many years ago.

“We were hopeful that they would succeed, but given how many land claims throughout the State are still unsettled – let alone how many have been refused – we couldn’t afford to get too optimistic,” she said.

“Now we can celebrate.”

Ms Davis said the land was used by past generations of Aboriginal people, as evidenced by several archaeological sites.

“There’s plenty of sites in there,” she said.

“The oldies used to go for the hills all the time, for safety from the floods.”

Ms Davis was unsure what would happen to the land once it was handed back to the land council, saying that would be determined by the members.

“We just hope the Premier can visit Nowra and do the hand-back personally. That would be wonderful,” Ms Davis said.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council’s South Coast representative, Jack Hampton, congratulated Mr Rees for his courage and foresight in handing back to Aboriginal people a huge area of land.