Butchulla Native Title group issues statement regarding Burrum Heads beach access

A four-year dispute over access to a stretch of beach has taken a new turn as a native title group insists all are welcome and calls on police to keep the peace.

Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation general manager Veronica Bird has previously said people were welcome to use the land to access the beach.

A four-year long dispute over a strip of exclusive native title land near a Burrum Heads beach continues to rage after a recent community meeting.

A statement has since been released by the Butchulla Native Title group this week, affirming the public’s right to use the land to access the beach despite claims by locals that they have been chased off and felt unsafe crossing the strip.

The Butchulla people were granted almost 100,000ha of native title land on the Fraser Coast in December 2019, including 17,000ha of which is exclusive use.

One small section of the exclusive-use area stretches along a 20m-wide foreshore in front of Burrum Heads residents’ homes.

The meeting was held at the Burrum Heads Community Hall on May 14, 2025.

Beach at Burrum Heads. Photo: Tracey Joynson

“We understand the concerns raised at the meeting regarding the actions taken over the last four years to prevent access to the beach at Burrum Heads through an area of exclusive possession of native title land,” the statement read.

“Our position has always been, and continues to be, that the Butchulla people do not seek to prevent the public from accessing public access routes to the beach at Burrum Heads.

“Butchulla people are collectively responsible for our land and all decisions about how land is to be used.

“No one native title holder is able to make final decisions about how the land is to be used or to prevent people from accessing the land. “All decisions about how land is used must be made in accordance with Butchulla traditional decision-making processes.”

Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation general manager Veronica Bird has been contacted for a response to the issue.

She has previously stated that while the organisation recognised the right of any Butchulla person to exercise their native title rights on that land, those rights did not extend to the beach or to blocking access to the beach.

“It’s about being respectful, being good neighbours so we’re all able to enjoy this beautiful country that we love,” Ms Bird said at the time.

In the statement prepared after the May meeting, the group said it encouraged the police service to take action if necessary.

Beach at Burrum Heads. Photo: Tracey Joynson

“We understand that the public have made several complaints to the Queensland Police Service over the past four years to report incidents that have occurred while attempting to access the beach at Burrum Heads through an area of exclusive possession of native title land,” the statement read.

“Our position has always been, and continues to be, that the Butchulla People’s exclusive possession does not prevent the police from exercising their powers to respond to anti-social incidents and take appropriate action where people are fearful, in peril, or have made a complaint.

“We call upon the police to use the enforcement powers at their disposal to maintain community safety for Burrum Heads residents.

“We are dedicated to working together with the people of Burrum Heads to achieve a respectful, sensitive, and lasting resolution to the concerns that have been raised.

Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Veronica Bird.

“The Butchulla Court Determination was brought on behalf of all Butchulla People, not one or a few Butchulla persons.”

The statement said one of the aspects of Butchulla Peoples’ native title was the right of exclusive possession.

“Butchulla people have the right to exclusive possession and use of land and waters where it has been determined our native title rights and interests are recognised under our traditional laws and customs,” it read.

“However, the right of exclusive possession is not absolute and it is subject to laws of the State of Queensland.

“Specifically, the State of Queensland passed legislation in 1993 to confirm existing public rights of access to beaches and these are capable of being recognised as an ‘interest’ for the purposes of our determination.

“Butchulla people do not have the right to restrict such interests, and actions to do so are outside Queensland law as well as our traditional laws and customs”.

In a statement Fraser Coast Councillor Michelle Byrne said on Wednesday the council’s powers to take action were limited given the land parcels were controlled by the State Government but it was still engaging with “all parties to try and find a positive resolution to the concerns of residents”.

“Council appreciates the efforts of BNTAC and the State Government, who hold the tenure of the land, and is actively working with both parties within the limits of our responsibilities for the land parcels in question,” she said.

Originally published as Butchulla Native Title group issues statement regarding Burrum Heads beach access