Yamatji Nation finalises agreement over land transfer

By PETER ROWE

The WA State government and the Yamatji Nation have finalised the transfer of the first 10 reserves to Bundi Yamatji Aboriginal Corporation, initiating the delivery of up to 149,090 hectares for the Yamatji Land Estate.

Covering approximately 48,000 square kilometres of land in the State’s Mid West region, the agreement resolves the WA Government’s compensation liability for the impairment and/or extinguishment of native title and includes a package of benefits for the Yamatji people, totalling approximately $500 million.

“This is an important first step in delivering on a key commitment of the Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement,” Lands Minister John Carey said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti said the transfer was the result of the resolve of the Yamatji people and their strong and enduring connection to Country.

“It will serve as a catalyst for realising the social, cultural and economic prospects of Yamatji land to its highest potential,” he said.

The transfers mark the formal creation of the Yamatji Land Estate agreed through the landmark Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement executed in 2020.

The Yamatji Land Estate will be drawn from the Crown land estate and eight Aboriginal Lands Trust properties in the Geraldton area.

It will establish the Yamatji people as one of the largest landholders in the Mid-West and provide a diverse asset base through which to build self-determination and long-term economic independence for Aboriginal people in the region.

Acting YSRC Chief executive Luka Gray said she was thrilled to see the first 10 reserves approved for transfer.

“This marks a pivotal moment for our people in securing our ancestral lands and paving the way for future generations of Yamatji people to thrive economically and culturally in the Mid West,” she said.