Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation 30 Year Anniversary Celebrations.
In 2013 the Gangalidda and Garawa rangers undertook environmental monitoring of the Redbank mine. The results revealed that copper sulphide is leaching into surrounding waterways, reinforcing the longstanding complaints of the Traditional Owners.
This is polluting Settlement Creek downstream and is also flowing across the Queensland border. Traditional Owners fear that without remediation the Wentworth Aggregation Wetlands may be at risk as well as the Gulf where it could affect marine animals such as endangered turtles and dugongs.
The rangers continue to attend stakeholder meetings at the mine to ensure that the issue is properly addressed, especially since the suggested remediation thus far has been vastly inadequate.
Rehabilitation is planned to be undertaken on the NT side of the border by Garawa-Waanyi rangers.
Upcoming and recent events
Stories on country
CLCAC’s Native Title Holders may be aware that the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Geological and Bioregional Assessment Program (GBA Program) were pursuing a three stage program of investigations into the potential for shale gas fields in the Gulf region (fracking).
Designation of Gangalidda People’s traditional country on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Network
Ten Gangalidda and Garawa Rangers recently completed another round of shorebird identification training with renowned ornithologist (bird expert) Roger Jaensch. The training session also included a survey of known bird roosts found between the Leichhardt and Albert River mouths. Though conditions were extremely hot and the going was tough on our team, several thousand birds were observed roosting on the intertidal flats between the river mouths. Such data adds to the recent nomination of Tarrant (located immediately to the west of the survey area) for its inclusion as a distinct site wit
CLCAC Rangers completed the last round of training required to complete their Certificate II in Remote Crocodile Management on 4 March, in an intensive two week training program that included weekend work. This round of training focused on nest surveys and egg incubation.
With the completion of their training to a Certificate II level the Rangers can begin to explore commercial enterprises involving crocodile management, a long-time aspiration of local Traditional Owner groups.
Native title rights and interests were yesterday formally recognised in Burketown by the Federal Court of Australia over a number of culturally significant areas and sites, including:
Members and Traditional Owners please be aware that the person (David Nilsson) referred to in the attached 60 Minute Report as a Carbon Cowboy is attempting to engage Traditional Owner groups in the Lower Gulf.