Central Highlands Regional Council hosted a Local Government Native Title Seminar in Emerald this week.
Councillors and council officers from Central Highlands, Isaac, Maranoa, Gympie, Banana and Livingstone councils and staff from the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Queensland and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy attended.
Mayor Kerry Hayes said the seminar showed the commitment by local government to develop effective working relationships with traditional owners, regulatory agencies and other key stakeholders.
‘The seminar provided an opportunity to develop skills that are vital to ensure council activities and projects are effective, efficient and compliant with native title and aboriginal cultural heritage legislation,’ he said.
‘It gives council officers on the ground the knowledge to identify items of cultural significance and management the knowledge to work with the legislation.’
Members of the National Native Title Tribunal presented topics that included native title claims, requirements for native title and aboriginal cultural heritage compliance, native title claim resolutions, and local government Indigenous Land Use Agreements.