❓ Dr Edwards questions the Minister for the Environment regarding the creation of national and conservation parks in the Kimberley, focusing on native title considerations, management strategies, and potential mining conflicts. The Minister's responses reveal a lack of initial legal advice and assessments, but indicate steps towards cooperative management.
AnsweredQoN 747Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
747. Dr EDWARDS to the Minister for the Environment:
(1) With respect to the announcement by the Premier on 20 August 2000 of the creation of two national parks and three conservation parks in the Kimberley, did CALM receive legal advice about the effect of the creation of these reserves on native title?
(2) If yes to (1), who provided this advice?
(3) What is the nature of this advice?
(4) Was the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority (NPNCA) advised that the area of the reserves were subject to native title claims before the reserves were vested with it?
(5) If not, why not?
(6) If yes to (4), what was the nature of the advice provided?
(7) Was CALM aware that the area of the reserves is subject to native title claims, prior to the reservation orders on 10 July 2000?
(8) If not, why not given that the information is available from the National Native Title Tribunal?
(9) Has CALM undertaken an assessment of the potential for tourism operations focussed on the new parks?
(10) If yes, what was the outcome and will the Minister table this assessment?
(11) Has CALM undertaken an assessment of the projected revenue which the parks might be expected to generate?
(12) If yes, what was the outcome and will the Minister table the assessment?
(13) What steps have been taken to implement a strategy of joint management between traditional owners and CALM with respect to the parks?
(14) Does the Minister accept that joint management is significantly different to "co-operative management"?
(15) If not, why not?
(16) What deficiencies currently exist in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 with respect to implementing joint management of national parks?
(17) Why have these deficiencies not been addressed?
(18) Given that part of the Lawley River National Park and the Laterite and Camp Creek Conservation Parks remain within the Temporary Reserve for Bauxite, does the nature of this Temporary Reserve mean that mining can take place within these parks without the approval of both houses of Parliament?
(19) If not, why not?
(1) With respect to the announcement by the Premier on 20 August 2000 of the creation of two national parks and three conservation parks in the Kimberley, did CALM receive legal advice about the effect of the creation of these reserves on native title?
(2) If yes to (1), who provided this advice?
(3) What is the nature of this advice?
(4) Was the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority (NPNCA) advised that the area of the reserves were subject to native title claims before the reserves were vested with it?
(5) If not, why not?
(6) If yes to (4), what was the nature of the advice provided?
(7) Was CALM aware that the area of the reserves is subject to native title claims, prior to the reservation orders on 10 July 2000?
(8) If not, why not given that the information is available from the National Native Title Tribunal?
(9) Has CALM undertaken an assessment of the potential for tourism operations focussed on the new parks?
(10) If yes, what was the outcome and will the Minister table this assessment?
(11) Has CALM undertaken an assessment of the projected revenue which the parks might be expected to generate?
(12) If yes, what was the outcome and will the Minister table the assessment?
(13) What steps have been taken to implement a strategy of joint management between traditional owners and CALM with respect to the parks?
(14) Does the Minister accept that joint management is significantly different to "co-operative management"?
(15) If not, why not?
(16) What deficiencies currently exist in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 with respect to implementing joint management of national parks?
(17) Why have these deficiencies not been addressed?
(18) Given that part of the Lawley River National Park and the Laterite and Camp Creek Conservation Parks remain within the Temporary Reserve for Bauxite, does the nature of this Temporary Reserve mean that mining can take place within these parks without the approval of both houses of Parliament?
(19) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 November 2000
Response time
64 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) No
(2-3) Not Applicable
(4-5) No. The National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority has previously been advised that native title claims have been or will be lodged over all existing and proposed conservation reserves and that Native Title Act processes to determine claims will apply.
(6)Not Applicable
(7) Yes
(8) Not Applicable
(9) No
(10) Not Applicable
(11) No
(12) Not Applicable
(13) The Minister for the Environment and the Department of Conservation and Land Management have written to the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation and the Kimberley Land Council seeking to establish a Park Council.
(14-15) No. Joint management and cooperative management are similar except that in the case of cooperative management the final decision making powers can be more readily exercised by the Minister for the Environment.
(16) The CALM Act provides for national parks to be vested in the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and managed solely by CALM.
(17) Cooperative management arrangements under the CALM Act will enable Aboriginal involvement in management decisions for respective parks.
(18) No in the case of national parks. Yes in the case of conservation parks.
(19) The Joint Venturers have agreed to the creation of conservation reserves and have foregone potential bauxite resources within the boundaries.
(1) No
(2-3) Not Applicable
(4-5) No. The National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority has previously been advised that native title claims have been or will be lodged over all existing and proposed conservation reserves and that Native Title Act processes to determine claims will apply.
(6)Not Applicable
(7) Yes
(8) Not Applicable
(9) No
(10) Not Applicable
(11) No
(12) Not Applicable
(13) The Minister for the Environment and the Department of Conservation and Land Management have written to the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation and the Kimberley Land Council seeking to establish a Park Council.
(14-15) No. Joint management and cooperative management are similar except that in the case of cooperative management the final decision making powers can be more readily exercised by the Minister for the Environment.
(16) The CALM Act provides for national parks to be vested in the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and managed solely by CALM.
(17) Cooperative management arrangements under the CALM Act will enable Aboriginal involvement in management decisions for respective parks.
(18) No in the case of national parks. Yes in the case of conservation parks.
(19) The Joint Venturers have agreed to the creation of conservation reserves and have foregone potential bauxite resources within the boundaries.
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