More than 19 hectares of Crown land will be returned to the ownership of Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council following a successful Aboriginal land claim by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has assessed and granted a claim over 19.65hectares of land near Albert in Central WestNew South Wales. The land will be returned to the ownership of Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council providing new opportunities for cultural, social and economic benefits for the Wiradjuri community.
Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act1983, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils have a right to lodge land claims on Crown land.
Land claims must be assessed against non discretionary statutory criteria in the Act, including whether the land was lawfully usedor occupied at the time of the claim, or was needed for an essential public purpose.
If the land is found to be lawfully used, occupied, or likely to be needed for an essential public purpose, the land claim is refused. If a land claim is granted, the Crownland is transferred as freehold land to theownership of the claimant land council.
Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council board member Christine Peckham said“The Aboriginal community has longstanding continuous connections to that land andthe Bogan River and Dandaloo and Albertareas. The return of this land is great as it isa place of significance.”
Minister for Lands and Property SteveKamper said “I’m pleased to see this sectionof land returned to the ownership and stewardship of the local Aboriginal community.”