[Referred to in Order 12]
1. BACKGROUND
The Determination recognises the native title rights and interests of the Native Title Holders within the Determination Area. Those rights and interests are held on trust by the Wiluna PBC.
The Determination also identifies a number of Pastoral Leases within the Determination Area. Individual Pastoralists hold and exercise rights in accordance with the terms of their respective Pastoral Leases. The Determination recognises that the rights of the Native Title Holders co-exist with the rights of the individual Pastoralists.
This document provides agreed principles by which both the Native Title Holders and Pastoralists will exercise their co-existing rights and interests harmoniously and in accordance with the Determination on those parts of the Pastoral Lease which are part of the Determination Area.
2. DISCUSSION AND NOTICE
The Pastoralist and the Native Title Holders may discuss matters relating to the exercise of their co-existing rights in a cooperative and consultative manner and will use their respective best endeavours to notify each other of certain upcoming matters.
2.1 The Pastoralist and the Wiluna PBC and/or Native Title Holders may discuss from time to time any matter including (but not limited to):
(a) safety issues;
(b) the efficient undertaking of Pastoral Activity;
(c) relevant business of the Pastoralist;
(d) places to be avoided temporarily due to Pastoral Activities such as mustering or trapping;
(e) heritage, cultural and law business issues; and
(f) issues related to compliance with any Law,
including, but not limited to discussions about:
(i) camping on the Pastoral Lease;
(ii) use of Pastoral Lease roads and tracks, including closure;
(iii) the lighting and extinguishment of fires;
(iv) consumption of alcohol;
(v) control of animals;
(vi) the use of fire arms;
(vii) soil or other environmental conservation matters (including but not limited to feral animal control); and
(viii) heritage issues including the interference with sites or areas of cultural significance.
2.2 The Pastoralist and Wiluna PBC or Native Title Holders will use best endeavours to:
(a) in the case of the Wiluna PBC / Native Title Holders, provide 48 hours notice to the Pastoralist of the intention to access the Pastoral Lease for the purpose of exercising native title rights and interests; and
(b) in the case of the Pastoralist, provide reasonable notice of significant Inconsistent Events that are proposed on the Pastoral Lease.
3. WASTE AND RUBBISH
The Native Title Holders acknowledge that the Pastoral Lease should be kept free of waste and rubbish.
3.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease:
(a) bury all human waste in a suitable manner; and
(b) do not leave any rubbish on the Pastoral Lease, especially rubbish near water sources when accessing the Pastoral Lease.
4. STATION FACILITIES
The Native Title Holders acknowledge that the Pastoralist is entitled to conduct Pastoral Activities without interference.
4.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease do not:
(a) use or interfere with Pastoral Lease facilities including buildings, vehicles, fences, plant and equipment, stockyards, dams and watering points and other Pastoral Improvements; or
(b) interfere with stock.
5. VISITS TO HOMESTEAD
The Native Title Holders acknowledge that the Pastoralist is entitled to retain privacy while at their homestead.
5.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease only call at the homestead between the hours of 6am and 6pm, except in the case of an emergency or as otherwise agreed.
6. CAMPING AND ACCESS
The Pastoralist acknowledges that the Native Title Holders are entitled to camp on and access the Pastoral Lease. The Native Title Holders acknowledge that the Pastoralist is entitled to conduct Pastoral Activities without interruption.
6.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders, when accessing the Pastoral Lease:
(a) camp:
(i) at least 500 meters away from airstrips;
(ii) at least two kilometres away from any man-made watering points (including windmills, bores and dams) except where such camping occurs at an agreed Site of Significance;
(iii) at least 5km away from the homestead, any freehold areas, stockyards (when in use) and other buildings located on the Pastoral Lease; and
(iv) away from station access roads;
(b) do not access Pastoralist Improvements except watering points, which shall only be accessed for the purpose of obtaining water subject to:
(i) Native Title Holders driving at 5km/h in the vicinity of watering points to not unduly disturb watering stock;
(ii) watering points being left as they were found; and
(iii) no picnicking, loitering or unnecessary noise or activity within 2 kilometres of a watering point, except where it occurs at an agreed Site of Significance;
(c) take away all waste, litter or rubbish brought with them;
(d) erect only temporary dwellings or other structures and dismantle them when they leave, unless otherwise agreed between the Pastoralist and a Native Title Holder; and
(e) do not access man-made watering points that are being used by stock.
7. HUNTING
The Pastoralist acknowledges that the Native Title Holders are entitled to hunt on the land. The Native Title Holders acknowledge the need to practice hunting in a way that does not create a safety risk.
7.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease:
(a) do not hunt or gather within two kilometres of any improvements;
(b) do not use any high calibre or high powered firearms;
(c) use firearms only if a licensed firearm holder and in accordance with the Firearms Act 1973 (WA); and
(d) only hunt in a manner that does not present a risk to other persons or their property, including any employees or invitees of the Pastoralist or stock.
8. DOGS AND DOG BAITING
The Native Title Holders acknowledge that dogs can be detrimental to Pastoral Activities and that regular baiting happens on the Pastoral Lease, which puts dogs at risk. The Pastoralist acknowledges that dogs are an integral part of Native Title Holders lives.
8.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease restrain and control any dogs brought onto the Pastoral Lease.
8.2 The Pastoralist shall use their best endeavours to advise the Wiluna PBC and/or any Native Title Holders of the locations of any dog baiting programs that the Pastoralist is undertaking on the Pastoral Lease in an area where the Pastoralist has received prior written notice of a visit.
8.3 The Native Title Holders will not bring dogs onto the Pastoral Lease when agreed in accordance with clause 2. Native Title Holders acknowledge that they bring dogs onto the station at their own risk.
9. STATION TRACKS AND ROADS
The Pastoralist acknowledges that the Native Title Holders can access and use the Pastoral Lease roads and tracks unless there are reasons why these roads and tracks may be inaccessible for various reasons.
9.1 The Pastoralist shall not unreasonably restrict the use of Pastoral Lease roads and tracks by the Native Title Holders.
9.2 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease:
(a) use vehicles on existing Pastoral Lease roads, tracks and public roads when ever possible;
(b) when exercising their native title rights in an area not serviced by existing Pastoral Lease roads, tracks and public roads, use the shortest reasonable route from the station track or road to the relevant location; and
(c) do not travel on roads (including public roads) or tracks on the Pastoral Lease which are declared by State authorities to be closed to traffic due to wet or adverse weather conditions or when agreed in accordance with clause 2, except:
(i) in the case of an emergency; or
(ii) where the Native Title Holders are on the Pastoral Lease prior to the roads or tracks being closed and need to return to their homes before the road closure has been lifted,
in which case the Native Title Holders shall take all appropriate precautions to avoid damage to such roads or tracks and other affected land.
10. GATES
The Pastoralist acknowledges that the Native Title Holders have a right to access the Pastoral Lease through pastoral gates. The Native Title Holders acknowledge that sometimes pastoral gates may need to be closed in which case alternative arrangements shall be made for access.
10.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease leave gates as they are found, that is, open if they are found open and closed if they are found closed.
10.2 The Pastoralist shall leave gates unlocked unless the Pastoralist considers it reasonably necessary to lock particular gates:
(a) to ensure proper stock management;
(b) to control public access; or
(c) for other reasons as are reasonable for the carrying on of Pastoral Activity.
10.3 If the Pastoralist locks particular gates, then the Pastoralist shall advise the Wiluna PBC which gates have been locked and what arrangements can be put in place to enable the Native Title Holders to continue to have access to those locked areas.
11. FIRES
The Native Title Holders acknowledge that fire can have a detrimental affect on a Pastoral Lease.
11.1 The Wiluna PBC shall use its best endeavours to ensure that the Native Title Holders when accessing the Pastoral Lease shall:
(a) ensure that their use of fire is restricted to campfires, cooking fires and fires for ritual and ceremonial purposes, which shall be controlled at all times;
(b) obey any temporary fire bans that are in place;
(c) use fire in accordance with the Bush Fires Act 1954 (WA), associated Regulations and other relevant Laws of Western Australia; and
(d) not in any circumstances light wildfires (burn-offs).
12. PRIVACY
12.1 Each of the Pastoralist and the Native Title Holders shall at all times respect the privacy of the other.
13. COMMON LAW HOLDERS' RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
The Pastoralist acknowledges that the Native Title Holders are entitled to conduct ceremonial, ritual and law business activities on the Pastoral Lease and shall not interfere with these activities.
13.1 The Pastoralist shall not intentionally interfere with the ceremonial, ritual or law business activities of the Native Title Holders.
13.2 Where the Wiluna PBC, or a Native Title Holder, has informed the Pastoralist, in accordance with clause 2, the undertaking of a ritual or ceremony or otherwise appear to be conducting a ritual or ceremony on the Pastoral Lease, the Pastoralist shall only engage with the Native Title Holders in order to deal with immediate and significant issues such as:
(a) threats to persons or property;
(b) actual injury to or death of persons; or
(c) damage to property,
unless otherwise invited by a Native Title Holder.
14. INTERPRETATION
14.1 In this Document, unless the contrary intention appears, the following words and phrases have following meanings:
"Determination" means the determination of native title made by McKerracher J in the Federal Court of Australia on 29 July 2013 in the matter of WAD 6164 of 1998, W.F. (Deceased) & Ors v the State of Western Australia & Ors;
"Determination Area" means the area of land and waters the subject of the Determination;
"Inconsistent Event" is:
(a) a Pastoral Activity limited in area and duration; or
(b) a natural event,
which by its nature is inconsistent with Native Title Holders accessing an area of land within the Pastoral Lease to exercise their native title rights and interests where the Pastoral Activity is being undertaken, or the natural event has occurred, and includes (but is not limited to):
(c) areas where mustering is being carried out;
(d) areas being used as a temporary stock yard;
(e) a paddock which has been prepared for sowing or where a crop is growing; or
(f) areas where weather or other factors make the proposed entry unsafe or potentially hazardous;
"Native Title Holders" means the persons described in Schedule 2 of the Determination;
"Pastoral Activity" means an activity or activities that the Pastoralist is permitted to undertake within the Pastoral Lease in accordance with the terms of the Pastoral Lease and the Land Administration Act 1997 (WA), including to:
(a) use, enjoy and develop the Pastoral Lease for purposes consistent with the terms of the Pastoral Lease;
(b) use the Pastoral Lease for the domestic and recreational purposes of the Pastoralist; and
(c) authorise others to enter and use the land and waters of the Pastoral Lease for purposes consistent with (a) above.
"Pastoral Lease" means the parts of each of the following pastoral stations that are in the Determination Area:
(a) Paroo Station, described in Crown Lease 15/1980 in relation to all of the parcels of land that is Thadoona Location 4, Kyarra Location 105 and Nabberu Location 38;
(b) Granite Peak Station, described in Crown Lease 332/1966 in relation to the parcel of land that is Hann Location 7 and Nabberu Location 26;
(c) Millrose Station, described in Crown Lease 183/1973 in relation to the parcel of land that is Nabberu Location 30;
(d) Cunyu Station, described in Crown Lease 180/1972 in relation to the parcel of land that is Hann Location 9 and Nabberu Location 28;
(e) Wongawol Station, described in Crown Lease 261/1993 in relation to all of the parcels of land that is Hann Location 10, Wells Location 4, Yelina Location 1 and Nabberu Location 29;
(f) Niminga Station, described in Crown Lease 240/1973 in relation to the parcel of land that is Wells Location 2;
(g) Carnegie Station, described in Crown Lease 59/1974 in relation to the parcel of land that is Wells Location 7;
(h) Prenti Downs Station, described in Crown Lease 239/1973 in relation to the parcel of land that is Yelina Location 4 and Wells Location 5;
(i) Yelma Station, described in Crown Lease 224/1973 in relation to the parcel of land that is Nabberu Location 35 and Yelina Location 3;
"Pastoralist" means, in relation to each Pastoral Lease the registered lessee of that Pastoral Lease;
"Prescribed Body Corporate" means a corporation whose name and address are registered on the National Native Title Register as a prescribed body corporate under section 193(2)(d)(iii) of the Native Title Act;
"Site of Significance" means a particular place that would be defined as a site under the provisions of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA) or equivalent Commonwealth legislation, of importance to the Native Title Holders according to Aboriginal custom and tradition; and
"Wiluna PBC" means the Prescribed Body Corporate for the Determination.