VICTORIAN traditional owners have lodged a native title claim over the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. Community meetings were held late last year for all traditional owners who claim rights and interests in the park.
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At the meetings, the groups decided to come together and form a joint claim as the Gariwerd Native Title Group. The traditional owners who claim rights and interests in the park are represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
The chairs of each of the corporations, Jennifer Beer, Denise Lovett and Jamie Lowe, issued a joint statement after lodging the claim in the federal court on Monday.
“Gariwerd is a special place for all of us. It forms the heart of many of our shared creation stories and is rich in Aboriginal heritage with over 80 per cent of Victoria’s rock art sites,” the statement read.
“It’s vital that this claim is successful so that we, as the traditional owners, can play a real role in protecting our heritage for everyone to enjoy.”
The application is the first native title claim over the Grampians.
“It is the result of meticulous historical research proving the continuous connection of each of the groups to the park,” a spokesperson for Native Title Services Victoria said.
“The claim covers 1672 square kilometres of Crown land. The traditional owners will seek to meet with the state government to discuss settlement options. If successful, traditional owners will have the right to hunt, camp, fish and care for their traditional country. They will also have the right to be consulted about any future developments in the park.”
The spokesperson said the claim did not affect anyone else’s existing rights.
“The public will still be able to access and enjoy the parks in the same ways they always have,” the spokesperson said.
“Their rights and interests are protected.”