‘Done deal’: Fears 95 per cent of Qld town Toobeah handed to Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation

An Aboriginal corporation has announced moves to develop a “master plan” for a tiny town prior to the approval of a controversial “land transfer” proposal, sparking huge community concern.

Toobeah, near Goondiwindi, has been divided since the government’s plans to transfer the 210ha town reserve to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation were revealed earlier this year.

Concern is mounting that “95 per cent” of a Queensland town will be handed over to an Aboriginal corporation after it announced moves to develop a “master plan” before the state government formally approves a controversial proposed “land transfer”.

Toobeah, near Goondiwindi, has been divided since the government’s plans to transfer the 210ha town reserve to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC) were revealed by The Courier-Mail earlier this year.

It is one of 15 townships in Queensland, including Eurong and Happy Valley on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), where First Nations groups have lodged expressions of interest to have land transferred to them as “inalienable freehold”.

Toobeah publican Michael Offerdahl has major fears for the small community.

Land transfers are made under the Aboriginal Land Act or Torres Strait Islander Land Act and are separate to native title.

More than six million hectares of state land - which can’t be sold or mortgaged but is held in trust for the benefit of traditional owners - has so far been granted to Indigenous across Queensland.

Toobeah publican Michael Offerdahl, who has been campaigning against the proposed land transfer, said he feared it was “a done deal” after BNTAC called for applicants for a community reference group to develop a master plan for the Toobeah Reserve.

On its website, the corporation said it has been engaging with the Toobeah community through public meetings and talks with the Department of Resources and Goondiwindi Regional Council “to deliver the planned outcome of transferring the reserve to the BNTAC”.

It said its objectives were to develop a master plan with the community reference group “as a means to include key stakeholders and community representatives for developing planned outcomes for the management of Toobeah Reserve”.

The BNTAC said the reference group would comprise three representatives from the corporation, two from the council and an unspecified number from the local community. Applications close next week and the group’s first meeting is expected to be held soon after.

Mr Offerdahl said he would not be applying to join the group because it would “legitimise the process”.

“I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t welcome me on it because of my history of calling them out,” he said.

“It’s a sham process. They want to narrow it down to as few people as they can. People that live in Toobeah would not have received any formal correspondence that anything’s happening.

“If you didn’t see it on the internet, you wouldn’t have had a clue and that there’s a meeting on and they want to continue that because that’s how they win.

“It appears to be a done deal unless we can somehow stop it.”

Speaking late Thursday, BNTAC executive director Justin Saunders said the community reference group was an opportunity to “come together to work up a master plan” for the reserve.

Mr Saunders said the plan was to develop the site as an eco-cultural attraction for the town and region.

“As previously stated, the Bigambul people remain committed to working together with the community through the Community Reference Group to develop and improve the site for the benefit of all,” he said.

The BNTAC also used a “Toobeah truth telling” section on its website to dismiss claims of an “Aboriginal land grab”.

Current proposed area to be transferred to the Bigambul Native Title group as of January 2024.

Rejecting “mistruths and misinformation”, the corporation said it wanted the reserve for “cultural heritage protection (and) environmental and economic development and prosperity objectives for Bigambul Nation including regional eco-cultural tourism opportunities”.

It said the reserve was less than one per cent of the Toobeah “district” and was designated for travelling stock and associated camping.

“People have been riding trail bikes and 4WDs across the property unlawfully and damaging the river banks and riparian vegetation over the years,” the corporation said.

“Bigambul plans to develop the site as an eco-cultural attraction for the town and region, and extend visitor stays.”

The corporation rejected claims the land transfer process had been shrouded in secrecy, saying it had consulted local landowners and spoken with Mr Offerdahl “on many occasions”.

“Some community representatives have not been transparent with their own economic interests, access and use of the reserve,” it said.

The BNTAC has pledged to preserve a water easement running through the reserve, the stock route and access to the local rodeo grounds.

A Department of Resources spokesman said a community forum had been held in Toobeah in March but the land transfer application had not yet been determined.

“We are continuing to engage with the Bigambul people and the Goondiwindi Regional Council regarding the proposed transfer,” he said.