An Aboriginal land return proposal near Hobart’s CBD has passed its first hurdle after receiving “in-principle support” at a Hobart City Council meeting.
The 4.9-hectare parcel of land near the summit of Queens Domain was identified by the council last year as a possible site for an Indigenous-owned cultural centre operated by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC).
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said Monday’s motion, which passed nine votes to three, had “strong support around the table”.
Councillor Reynolds said those who voted against the proposal had raised procedural questions, including whether the hand back could be blocked at a later stage.
“If we had a state government who did not want this to happen, roadblocks could be put in place,” Cr Reynolds said.
“But we’ve heard from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Bridget Archer … and we know that she sees this as a good idea.
“Whether that process is smooth or takes a really long time is really incumbent on all the partners on this journey. This includes the council, but it is also the state government and all their different departments, and also the Aboriginal Land Council.”
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds says the motion passed 9 votes to 3. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)
The vote was not the final approval for the land return but will allow the council’s chief executive to undertake the necessary work to progress the proposal, which includes investigating any title issues for subdivision, and obtaining legal, planning, heritage, environmental and land tenure advice.
A development application and public consultation would still need to be completed, and any cultural centre would be subject to a separate future development application.
The earmarked area is currently classified as public land and the council-proposed subdivision would not impact the public’s access to it.
This parcel contains an area suitable for development alongside part of the lowland native grassland. (ABC News: Andrew Cunningham)
‘Unique opportunity’ for establishing cultural centreLoading…
If approved, the land parcel off Domain Road would be Tasmania’s first Aboriginal land return in more than two decades.
Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) general manager Sarah Wilcox said the transfer would be welcomed by the community.
“This is a really unique opportunity to think about establishing a cultural centre which can serve as a keeping place,” she said.
“Currently in the Aboriginal community, we have absolutely nowhere to look after our sacred cultural items.”
If it gets final approval, it would be the first Aboriginal land handback in Tasmania in more than 20 years. (ABC News: Andrew Cunningham)
In its proposal, the council report referenced ALCT chair Greg Brown, who said the cultural centre would create “spaces for interpretation, exhibition, and the sharing of stories by Aboriginal artists and cultural practitioners”.
“For us as Palawa people, serving our community and caring for Country is a profound responsibility and privilege,” he said.
“Since 1995, the return of land has enabled meaningful cultural, social and economic outcomes for our people; outcomes that are only possible through strong, respectful relationships with government and the broader Tasmanian community.”
The ALCT has proposed a collaborative land management arrangement with the council to share “ongoing stewardship of the broader Queens Domain”.
‘A lot of red tape’
Cr Reynolds said the transfer of the council-owned land would be fairly involved with much “state government red tape”.
‘People do care’: Why private owners are handing land back
“We still have to go through quite a lot of process,” she said.
“We have to go through a separate process to close off a bit of Domain Road so we can access that asphalt space. We have to rehabilitate it. We also then have to go through a disposal of public land process, which is quite involved.”
The council was asked by the TAC last year for support to build an Aboriginal-owned and operated cultural centre in the state’s capital.
The centre would host cultural items, act as a performance space and support Aboriginal food enterprises and other tourism activities.
There have been no large-scale land returns in Tasmania since 2005, when Truwana/Cape Barren Island and Lungtalanana/Clarke Island were returned to the ALCT.