Mitchell-Alice National Park ‘handback’ proves success of Cape York Indigenous-Conservation agreements

The hand back of the Mitchell and Alice Rivers National Park on Cape York Peninsula to Traditional Owners proves that the historic agreements reached between Indigenous and conservation interests on Cape York continue to deliver outstanding outcomes.

The Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones, announced the hand over this morning at a ceremony in Kowanyama, converting the old Mitchell and Alice Rivers National Park into the new Aboriginal-owned Errk Oykangand National Park. This protected area will be jointly-managed by Traditional Owners and the Queensland Government, under an Indigenous Management Agreement.

“This is the first ever handback of a National Park in Queensland, and is another breakthrough for land justice on Cape York, delivered with the active support of conservation groups”, said Anthony Esposito of The Wilderness Society

The 37,100 hectare Errk Oykangand National Park is a living cultural landscape, once again under the care of its Traditional Owners. The Park is home to over 300 species, including the Estuarine Crocodile. In a spectacular natural cycle, the entire area is flooded every Wet season, with water restricted to lagoons and creeks in the Dry season.

The return of the Park to its Traditional Owners coincides with the Kowanyama Peoples’ Native Title determination delivered by Justice Andrew Greenwood of the Federal Court yesterday, and arises from the work of the Cape York Tenure Resolution Group (CYTRIG).

CYTRIG is a unique partnership between the Wilderness Society, Cape York Land Council, Balkanu Development Corporation, the Australian Conservation Foundation, and the Queensland Government, working together to return lands to Traditional Owners and protect areas of outstanding environmental and cultural significance.

In 2007, the CYTRIG parties negotiated the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007. Among other conservation and Indigenous development outcomes, the Act creates a new class of National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land). This has paved the way for the future hand back of all National Parks in Cape York to their rightful Indigenous custodians. The Errk Oykangaard National Park is the first of many transfers planned.

“Cape York is the scene of Australia’s most significant contemporary land rights and conservation campaigns. Over 15 years the Queensland and Federal Governments have purchased around 2 million hectares of land for the dual purpose of conservation and return of homelands to Traditional Owners.

“The Wilderness Society is pleased to be part of this significant campaign. It empowers local Indigenous communities and provides local jobs, at the same time as protecting the globally significant environment of Cape York and creating one of the largest Indigenous conservation estates in the world.

“Protection of the magnificent cultural and natural landscape of Errk Oykangand National Park demonstrates the vision, determination and generosity of the local Traditional Owners” concluded Mr Esposito.