Native Title claim lodged for The Spit on the Gold Coast
A Native Title claim has been lodged for one of Australia’s most pristine parcels of land – The Spit on the Gold Coast – where a resort and possible casino have been proposed.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Native Title claim has been lodged with the Federal Court for one of Australia’s most pristine parcels of land – The Spit on the Gold Coast – with plans to turn it into a resort and possibly a second casino for the city.
The Kombumerri-NgarangWal Saltwater People have filed the Native Title claim, “reaffirming our legitimate rights to our land, the resident traditional owners of the broader Gold Coast lands and waterways at the southern end of Quandamooka Country’’.
The native title claims were signed by senior elder David Dillon and Anthony Dillon, on behalf of the traditional owner families.
It calls for a review of The Spit masterplan, which it says lacks vision, integrity and respect.
The new proposal also includes provision for a cable car.
Dubbed indigenomics, the plan is to create a consortium and make the Kombumerri NgarangWal Saltwater people self-sufficient by using The Spit for their own commercial purposes.
The model being used by the Gold Coast-based tribe is similar to the Cherokee Indians in North America, where there are three casinos run by local indigenous Indians – the Cherokee casino in North Carolina, the Prairie Band casino in Kansas and the Ak-Chin Casino in Arizona.
They have ownership to the land, prescribed by native title laws promulgated by the US Supreme Court.
Kombumerri spokesman David Dillon said: “For too long we’ve been emasculated when it comes to the commercial use of native title land”.
“We are saying we now want to create our own destiny. We want to be part of the action so we can stand on our own feet,” he said.
“Our focus is ensuring sustainable connection of our people to country. The subjugation and
marginalisation in the past is over. Our corporate and community achievements have moved us
forward from what was a permanently impoverished existence through a renaissance of seeking to take control of our own destiny through notions of self governance and a ‘Success by Design’ context.
“Saltwater People are inclusive. All those with bona fide connections will be embraced, however no longer will we tolerate the division, deceptions and lack of focus of blow-ins and marauders who regularly sabotage our efforts of unity and progress.
“Our indigenomics approach, built on the principles of self determination and collective wellbeing, is important to us.’’
The Spit has long been a hot political potato on the Gold Coast with successive governments and the council ruling it out for commercial use.
It is arguably the most valuable 180ha in Queensland.
Originally published as Native Title claim lodged for The Spit on the Gold Coast
‘Family won’t come second’: Pregnant newsreader’s promotion shock
As Channel 7 grapples with allegations of a toxic workplace culture, the new star of the Brisbane newsroom says she has been able to make her own rules as she steps into her role.
This generation’s last hope. What if it goes wrong?
While the polls suggest an easy victory for the LNP, October 26 will almost certainly deliver several unpredictable results, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.