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| Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council |
| Type | Aboriginal land council |
| Location | New South Wales, Port Stephens Council, Mid-Coast Council, Great Lakes Council |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Nelson Bay, Anna Bay, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Key people | Terry McCarthy (Aboriginal leader), Deborah Newell, Eddie Grant |
| Area served | Worimi people, Port Stephens, Great Lakes (New South Wales), Barrington Coast |
Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council is an Aboriginal land council representing the Worimi people of the mid-north coast of New South Wales. The council administers land, cultural heritage, economic development and community services across territories including Port Stephens, Great Lakes (New South Wales), Forster, New South Wales, Anna Bay and surrounding localities. It emerged within the statutory framework established by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (New South Wales) and operates alongside other Indigenous bodies such as NSW Aboriginal Land Council and regional entities.
The council was established in the early 1990s as part of the network created by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (New South Wales) and the subsequent formation of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Early interactions involved land claims related to sites such as Tomaree Headland, Bombah Point, Stockton Beach and areas near Gloucester River. The Worimi people maintained customary connections documented in submissions to inquiries including the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and engaged with legal processes influenced by decisions like Mabo v Queensland (No 2) and legislative responses such as the Native Title Act 1993. The council negotiated with local authorities including Port Stephens Council, Great Lakes Council, and state agencies such as the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales) to secure protection for sites like the Worimi Conservation Lands and the Worimi Sand Dunes.
The body is governed by elected councillors under the model prescribed by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (New South Wales), reporting into networks coordinated by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Its governance includes roles equivalent to chair, secretary and treasurer and specialist committees liaising with institutions such as Land and Property Management Authority (New South Wales), Heritage Council of New South Wales, and the Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales). Regional governance interacts with neighbouring representative bodies including Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, Guraki Local Aboriginal Land Council, Macleay Local Aboriginal Land Council and with Indigenous peak bodies like the Aboriginal Land Council of NSW and national entities such as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
Worimi land holdings include coastal dunes, foreshores and significant cultural landscapes such as Worimi Conservation Lands and sections of Tomaree National Park. The council manages cultural heritage registers in consultation with the National Native Title Tribunal, the Heritage Council of New South Wales and researchers from institutions including University of Newcastle (Australia), University of Sydney and University of New England (Australia). Protected sites encompass middens, ceremonial places and archaeological deposits whose management involves collaboration with agencies such as the Australian Museum and the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage. The council contributes to interpretation projects linking to attractions like Stockton Bight Sand Dunes and initiatives referencing figures such as David Unaipon through regional cultural programming.
The council delivers land management, cultural education and economic development programs. Initiatives include ranger services modeled on practices in partnership with National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales), cultural tourism guided by standards used by operators at Tomaree Headland, employment pathways linked with NSW Department of Industry and small business support reflecting approaches used by Aboriginal Hostels Limited and Indigenous Business Australia. Community services address housing needs in coordination with Aboriginal Housing Office (New South Wales), health promotion aligning with Aboriginal Medical Service Cooperative Limited (Redfern) and cultural revitalization through language and arts programs in liaison with AIATSIS and local museums such as the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.
The council engages in advocacy with state ministers including the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales) and participates in regional planning processes with Port Stephens Council and agencies like the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. Partnerships include cooperative arrangements with conservation NGOs such as Bush Heritage Australia, collaborations with universities including University of Newcastle (Australia) and exchange projects with other land councils including Gundungurra Tribal Council and Yuin Nation Aboriginal Corporation. The council advocates on issues intersecting with national frameworks like the National Indigenous Australians Agency policy settings and international instruments referenced by United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Key projects include the management plan for the Worimi Conservation Lands and the Worimi Sand Dunes rehabilitation project undertaken in partnership with Port Stephens Council and entities such as Landcare Australia. Economic initiatives have included cultural tourism enterprises near Anna Bay and heritage interpretation works at Tomaree Headland and Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. The council has been involved in native title processes related to claims heard before the Federal Court of Australia and determinations involving the National Native Title Tribunal. Collaborative research projects have been funded through grants from bodies such as the Australian Research Council and executed with partners including University of Sydney, University of Newcastle (Australia) and the Australian Museum.
Category:Aboriginal land councils in New South Wales Category:Worimi