HISTORIC LAND USE AGREEMENT DELIVERS NEW NATIONAL PARK FOR NSW

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council has hailed the creation of a new national park on the State's North Coast as a victory for reconciliation and for the people of NSW.

"It's a first for Australia and proof positive of the power of negotiation over litigation," NSWALC Chairman Rod Towney said today.

"This agreement is not simply about recognition of the Arakwal People's traditional rights, as significant as that recognition is. It also delivers concrete benefits such as a cultural centre, training and jobs. It's a way of delivering greater economic independence to the local Aboriginal people and sets the standard for future negotiations on the North Coast, and indeed, elsewhere in the State.

"The Prime Minister likes to talk about practical reconciliation, but we're achieving it here in NSW," Chairman Towney said.

"More importantly, this deal shows that the complexity of the Native Title Act need not get in the way of those talking good sense and acting in good faith."

The Arakwal National Park has been created after seven years of consultation between the Arakwal people of Byron Bay, the NSW Government, community groups and the Byron Shire Council.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council facilitated community consultations, provided legal and anthropological support and certified the agreement.

"It was a long and arduous process, but we're delighted with the outcome and we're looking forward to stage two of the negotiations on an even more comprehensive Indigenous Land Use Agreement for the Arakwal People.

"We congratulate the Government on its commitment to stage two, which will look at addressing the whole range of Native Title issues for the Arakwal People. This deal can and should be a model for similar agreements elsewhere in Australia. We believe it's a sign of even greater things to come," Chairman Towney concluded.