Locals are up in arms over what is being called a “secret” land grab after an indigenous corporation bid for freehold ownership of the south-east’s two main townships. queensland‘s K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).
The Butchulla people, who hold native title over most of K’gari and a lease of 30 hectares, have lodged a claim over five square kilometers of Eurong and Happy Valley transferred to them as “unalienable absolute property” under the Aboriginal Land Act.
Locals say they were only told the transfer would “definitely happen” at a meeting last week with the Department of Resources, the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation and the Fraser Coastal Council.
Fraser Island Association president David Anderson said the move was only due to an apparent administrative error in the 1960s that failed to publish the Eurong and Happy Valley municipal reserves.
Native title can only be claimed over vacant Crown land that is not gazetted for another purpose.
Mr Anderson said there were fears non-Indigenous residents and tourists could be left out of the new area after the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation allegedly said they would be seen as “trespassers”.
“We believe that will be the attitude of all your land,” Mr. Anderson told the mail.
‘They want land. They have native title over the rest of the island and now want even more property than they already have. She’s just a gimme. I mean, how much do you want?
An Aboriginal corporation has made a claim for freehold ownership of the K’gari township (formerly Fraser Island) areas of Happy Valley and Eurong.
Happy Valley Community Association Secretary Scott Bell accused those involved of making a “secret deal” and said it only came to light by “accident.”
‘They (the Butchullas) made a claim about our police reserve, our educational reserve and the esplanade that effectively denies us access to the beach,’ he said.
“What people don’t realize is that the land next door where you go to exercise or walk your dog may not be able to do so in the future.”
A Department of Resources spokesperson denied an agreement had been reached and said last week’s meeting was to keep the community informed.
“The department continues to work with the Butchulla Town, Fraser Coast Regional Council and the community on the proposed transfers,” the spokesperson said.
Aerial view of the beach in Eurong township, over which traditional owners are making a freehold claim.
Bell said that if the transfer goes ahead, his association was ready to mount a legal challenge.
On Sunday, the Queensland government announced it would contest a native title claim for ownership and exclusive use of Great Keppel Island.
Traditional owners, the Woppaburra people, have lodged a new claim to the region off the Capricorn Coast in central Queensland.
The suit, which is in the pre-notification stage, requests exclusive possession of nine lots and a partial lot totaling just over nine square meters.
In 2021, the Woppaburra people were formally recognized as traditional owners and native title holders of 570 square meters of land and sea off the Yeppoon coast.
The recognition also granted the Woppaburra people exclusive use of parts of Great Keppel Island.
However, the native title did not include the resort on the island, which was managed by Contiki and was under a private lease held by Tower Holdings.
Happy Valley Community Association secretary Scott Bell said his group was ready to mount a legal challenge.
The complex, which was a popular tourist attraction, was abandoned in 2008 and subsequently demolished 10 years later.
The Queensland government then canceled Tower Holdings’ lease in 2023 over unpaid rent owed by the operator amounting to almost $900,000.
The termination of the lease allowed the Woppaburra people to make a second native title claim which included the area covered by the complex and its airstrip.
It is understood that the area cannot be considered vacant land but rather a strategic land management reserve under the Department of Resources.
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