Parliamentary Speeches
National Parks and Wildlife (Broken Head Nature Reserve) (03/09/2009)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [10.10 a.m.]: I support the introduction of the National Parks and Wildlife (Broken Head Nature Reserve) Bill 2009. The Broken Head Nature Reserve is in the Ballina electorate. The bill will enable the Arakwal people to implement stage two of the indigenous land use agreement and support further co-management of national parks in the Byron Bay area. The bill allows for six small parcels of land to be revoked from the Broken Head Nature Reserve and transferred to the Arakwal people, the traditional owners of Byron Bay. The small parcels of land, which total 981 square metres, have, over time, become part of the Broken Head Caravan Park. They will now be included in the caravan park, which will be managed by the Arakwal people. I know this area very well and it is important to note that there are no environmental values attached to the parcels of land. They are now well-established camping areas and have negligible conservation values in relation to the nearby nature reserve. Incorporating the sections of land into the Broken Head Caravan Park is a sensible and practical measure. Essentially it is a sensible boundary adjustment.
As I mentioned, the transfer of this land will enable the second stage of the indigenous land use agreement between the New South Wales Government and the Arakwal people to proceed. As part of this agreement, which was signed in 2006, the Arakwal people surrendered any potential native title claim on the lands and waters around Broken Head, allowing the approximately 70 hectares of Crown land to be added to the local national parks system. The Broken Head Caravan Park, which is also on Crown land, is to be transferred to the Arakwal people, creating employment opportunities for members of the indigenous community. A covenant on the land title will ensure it remains a caravan park. The Broken Head Caravan Park is very popular and I would expect the average user of the park to notice very few, if any, changes to the management and enjoyment of the caravan park as a result of this legislation. As I indicated, this is sensible, practical legislation to essentially enable a boundary adjustment at the Broken Head Caravan Park, and the Opposition does not oppose it.
