Pine Creek Native Title Determination Ceremony
Date: Apr 8, 2019
Publication Type: Media Releases
The Federal Court of Australia will hold a special hearing in Pine Creek at 11am on Tuesday 9 April 2019 to recognise native title rights and interests over the town.
Date: Tuesday 9 April 2019
Time: 11am
Where: Heritage Park, Pine Creek NT. Wet weather option: Community Hall, Pine Creek NT.
This Native Title Determination recognises mostly exclusive native title in and around the town of Pine Creek, covering an area of approximately 12km2.
On Tuesday Justice White will recognise exclusive native title over much of the town of Pine Creek. He will also recognise a right to “access and take resources for any purpose” – i.e. including commercial purposes and not limited to personal or domestic purposes. This right was first recognised in the Northern Territory in the town of Borroloola in August 2016. The native title determination in Pine Creek marks the second time the Northern Territory has agreed to recognise this right by consent, following the town of Larrimah determination in October 2018.
Exclusive possession native title is the highest recognition capable under Australian property law, giving Wagiman and Jawoyn Bolmo, Matjba and Wurrkbarbar native title holders the same rights as private land owners. Existing roads and private land will not be affected by the determination.
The first native title claim over Pine Creek was lodged 20 years ago. This will be the first time the Federal Court has sat in Pine Creek.