Iron Range hand-back continues Australia’s largest land return and conservation program

Media Release
The Wilderness Society (Qld.)
29 July 2011

Today’s signing of Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Indigenous Management Agreements, resulting in the transfer of the Iron Range National Park to the ownership of the Kuuku Ya'u peoples, continues the progress towards land justice and Indigenous conservation on Cape York. Several Island National Parks adjacent to the area will also be converted under this arrangement.

"The Wilderness Society welcomes this hand-back, and hopes that it is the start of a fresh era for the Kuuku Ya'u Traditional Owners on their Country. This initiative can be a building block for land justice, economic opportunity and great conservation outcomes for the next generation," said Anthony Esposito, the Wilderness Society’s National Manager for Indigenous Conservation.

The hand-back of Iron Range, now also known as Kutini-Payamu makes it the fourth National Park to be converted to National Park (Cape York Aboriginal Land) through the work of the Cape York Tenure Resolution Group (CYTRIG).

"The Cape York State Land Dealings, overseen by CYTRIG, is the most significant program to combine land acquisition, native title resolution, and environment protection underway anywhere in the Country," said Mr Esposito.

"Today we can celebrate the fact that the extraordinary Iron Range - containing the largest remaining area of lowland rainforest in Australia, an abundance of rare and unique plants and animals, and holding enormous Aboriginal cultural significance - will have secure protection under the ownership and co-management of the Kuuku Ya’u Traditional Owners."

"The Wilderness Society is honoured to be part of this occasion and hopes it serves as a reminder that State, conservation and Indigenous interests can and will find common ground on matters of importance to the Australian community."

The Wilderness Society works alongside the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Cape York Land Council and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation in CYTRIG. The group is chaired and facilitated by three Queensland Government Ministers.

For more information contact:

Alex Tibbitts, National media adviser: 0416 420 168
Anthony Esposito, National Indigenous Conservation Program Manager: 0418 152 743