A native tribe based on the Gold Coast has filed a Native Title claim for a valuable piece of land there and unveiled its intention to use the area for its own commercial purposes.
The Kombumerri-NgarangWal Saltwater People have lodged a Native Title claim with the Federal Court for The Spit on the Gold Coast, which is currently among the most highly-rated parcels of land there, asking the Court to reaffirm the tribe’s legitimate rights to its land. The tribe also unveiled its plans to turn the parcel into a resort that could possibly feature another casino for the city. The tribe claims its people are the actual owners of the broader lands of the Gold Coast and waterways at the Quandamooka County’s southern end.
The tribe’s claims filed to the Federal Court were inked by senior elder David Dillon and Anthony Dillon, who have defended the alleged rights on the land on behalf of the native people. As mentioned above, the claim calls for The Spit masterplan to be reviewed as it lacks integrity, vision and respect, according to the tribe.
A provision for a cable car is included in the new proposal. The plan is aimed at creating a consortium and utilising The Spit for the Kombumerri-NgarangWal Saltwater People’s own commercial purposes.
Gold Coast Native Tribe Wants to Use the Parcel of Land for Its Own Commercial Purposes
The model used by the Gold Coast native tribe is quite similar to the one used by North America’s Cherokee Indians, where there are currently 3 casino venues operated by local indigenous people – the Prairie Band Casino in Kansas, the Cherokee casino in North Carolina, and the Arizona-based Ak-Chin Casino. The North American tribal nation is given ownership of the land under native title laws approved by the US Supreme Court.
David Dillon, a spokesman for the Kombumerri-NgarangWal Saltwater People, noted that the Gold Coast-based tribal nation had been emasculated for too long when it comes to the commercial use of native title land. The tribe is now willing to create its own destiny and even participate in the gambling sector of the region. The spokesman of the tribal nation confirmed that ensuring a sustainable connection between the country and its people is among the top priorities of the tribe.
The parcel of land that is being claimed by the Kombumerri-NgarangWal Saltwater People – The Spit – has long been an issue of political uproar on the Gold Coast, with a number of consecutive governments and the council ruling it out for commercial use. According to reports, the parcel is currently the most valuable 180 hectares in the state of Queensland.
The Native Title claim filed by the tribe aims at getting legal recognition of the alleged rights on the land, which has long been eyed as one of the most attractive spots on the Gold Coast, especially for further development of the local gambling and casino industry.
- Author
Olivia Cole
