Toobeah goes to war over land transfer to Aboriginal group

A war has erupted in the tiny Queensland town of Toobeah, 330km southwest of Brisbane, over a controversial freehold transfer of land to the local Indigenous corporation.

Furious businessman Michael Offerdahl has hit out at council

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A war has erupted in the tiny Queensland town of Toobeah, 330km southwest of Brisbane, over a controversial freehold transfer of land to the local indigenous corporation – a move that has been described as an “insane” precedent for other parts of the state.

Residents claim the Goondiwindi Regional Council – led by high-profile mayor Lawrence Springborg – has failed to consult the 300-strong community on the imminent State Government transfer of the 220ha Toobeah Reserve to the Bigambul Aboriginal Corporation (BAC).

Currently, only a few places in the state’s northern tip around Cape York are designated indigenous freehold.

Furious businessman Michael Offerdahl, whose family runs the Toobeah Hotel Motel which backs onto the reserve, said he feared the BAC would close off the massive parcel of recreational land.

“If we want to go for a swim in the creek, we’d have to ask them – and there’s nothing to stop them from locking up the reserve if they so choose,” Mr Offerdahl said.

“We’re the first bastion of defence for this – if we cop it now it sets an insane precedent.

“At first I was just worried about the growth of our town – we need 20 more houses to support the cotton and dry land farmers and they could be built on that land – but now my biggest fear is for other places across Queensland.”

Location and extent of land tenure in Australia. Picture: Australia Sate of the Environment

Fellow local Anna Power said: “If we don’t have transparency and consultation on these claims, as per Queensland Government requirements, division and distrust will grow which is not conducive to a thriving, united community.”

Controversial One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson has weighed in on the issue, demanding the transfer be halted.

Ms Hanson said the reserve had been “the heart of the Toobeah community for more than a century”.

“Residents have paid good money to keep it well maintained, and they make regular use of it for a range of recreational pursuits but now they’re wondering if they’ll have access to this community land again,” she said.

Ms Hanson said residents had been “kept in the dark” over the Toobeah Reserve and she had written to the state government and Goondiwindi Regional Council asking the transfer be paused until they were “given the opportunity to be consulted”.

“More than half of Australia is already under native title, and another 12 percent is under claim. At some point Australians are going to have to say enough is enough. Australia is home to all Australians and belongs to all Australians,” she said.

Mr Springborg told The Courier-Mail council was “not the decision maker” on Toobeah Reserve and consultation with the community was underway, with state government representatives due to visit on March 4.

“The decision maker is the state, under the Aboriginal Land Act, and we (council) are the current trustee responsible for managing stock watering and camping,” he said.

“Council has reinforced its 2020 position that we would be agreeable to the transfer based on additional urban lots being available on the reserve land, the stock route being open and the town water supply protected, and a process of public consultation by the state government with the community.”

Current proposed area to be transferred to the Bigambul Native Title Group as of January 24, 2024.

Mr Springborg said the land was not designated as recreational and any change of use would need to be consented to by the Bigambul people, the non-exclusive native title holders.

Justin Saunders, executive director of Bigambul Aboriginal Corporation, said at a public meeting about the freehold transfer, held at Toobeah kindergarten on February 12, the BAC assured the community “we would not close the gates” to the reserve.

“In fact, we said we will work with the local community to develop access guidelines so that the whole of community could enjoy it like we have done cohesively for generations,” said Mr Saunders, who lives on the Gold Coast.

“We’re committed to developing terms of reference to preserve, protect and maintain the reserve and to share and grow the opportunities around caring for country, healthy waterways, rangers’ programs and with the application of traditional ecological knowledge.

Surveyors on site at Toobeah Reserve. Picture: Michael Offerdahl

“Essentially we want to put Toobeah back on the map as an eco and cultural tourism destination.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Resources said Toobeah Reserve was “a highly culturally significant site for the Bigambul People and they have publicly committed to ensuring the community continues to have access to the reserve”.

“As part of the standard process under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991, the department conducts many activities including on-site surveys, community engagement and formal consultation.

“A working group is being formed with the community, Bigambul People and Council with more community consultation to get underway next month.”

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg

Originally published as Toobeah goes to war over land transfer to Aboriginal group