Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Timber Creek Land Claim" [1986] AboriginalLawB 23; (1986) 1(19) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 7

• Timber Creek Land Claim

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Timber Creek Land Claim

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Clyde Holding, has accepted the recommendation of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner, Mr Justice Maurice, that freehold title to vacant Crown land in the Timber Creek area be granted to an Aboriginal Land Trust.

The grant covers an area of some 132 square kilometers about 280km south-west of Katherine on the Victoria Highway.

Mr Holding said the Commissioner had found that the senior claimants demonstrated strong traditional attachment to the land claimed, and that they were continuing to influence the younger generation who were being taught about the country and taking part in ceremonies on the land.

The Commissioner commented that there were 163 traditional Aboriginal owners of the claim area who would be advantaged by a grant of the land.

The area to be granted includes the southern bank of the Victoria River where itt immediately adjoins the Timber Creek Commonage Reserve.

Mr Holding said he had asked the Northern Land Council to make appropriate arrangements to ensure continued access by the wider community to the southern bank of the Victoria River.

‘There is one road on the claim area, the Victoria Highway, over which the Commissioner found the public has a right of way and this will be excluded from the grant,’ Mr Holding said.

Mr Holding said he has asked for the necessary title documents to be prepared as soon as practicable.