Latest news with #NorthernLandCouncil
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Major development after Aboriginal group shut down spectacular swimming spot for SIX years
A spectacular swimming hole in the Northern Territory will reopen after the traditional owners closed it off from the public for six years. The famous Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park was closed after Parks Australia built a walkway up to a scenic view. Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) launched legal action claiming the work was done near a sacred site without their permission. Under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, all construction work must be agreed to and signed off by the AAPA. The dispute went to court with the federally run Parks Australia fined $200,000 and issuing an apology. However, traditional owners from the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust have given the green light for Parks Australia to reopen the falls to the public. It comes as Northern Land Council has negotiated a new lease agreement with the federal government for Kakadu National Park, with increased rent of $10.7 million per year. Parks is now conducting final safety checks ahead of a planned reopening for the falls in late May. After the rainy season from November to April, the site has a roaring waterfall cascading down 85-metre cliffs to an emerald billabong. The falls also offer stunning views across the south of Kakadu National Park. The billabong will be open for swimming during the dry season from May to October. There is a public campground near the base of the falls, complete with showers and toilets, while the nearest accommodation is Cooinda Lodge, about an hour away by 4WD. The falls, previously known as UDP falls after the Uranium Developing and Prospecting Company, have long attracted tourists to the Northern Territory. In 1986 the site appeared in the movie Crocodile Dundee.
ABC News
25-04-2025
- ABC News
Aboriginal organisation urges 'systemic change' in wake of Darwin supermarket fatal stabbing
The organisation representing Darwin's Aboriginal traditional owners has called on the Northern Territory's land councils to "stand up" and do more to help stamp out violent crime. Larrakia Nation's chief executive Michael Rotumah made the comments in the wake of the death of Nightcliff grocer Linford Feick, who was fatally stabbed by an alleged shoplifter on Wednesday. Linford Feick, 71, was fatally stabbed while working at his Nightcliff store on Wednesday. ( ABC News: Laetitia Lemke ) The 18-year-old alleged offender was out on bail at the time of the incident, and police said his bail conditions included the condition of needing to stay in a remote Top End Aboriginal community. The young Aboriginal man has since Photo shows Boy and man 2 Linford Feick is remembered as a "true legend" with a "heart of gold", as the Darwin community gathers to remember the local grocer who was stabbed to death at his store. Mr Rotumah, a traditional owner of Wauk (Murgenella) and Croker Island in West Arnhem Land, said "systemic change" was needed to make a difference to Mr Rotumah said remote community leaders and NT land councils needed to be at the forefront of such a shift. The NT's four Aboriginal land councils represent the interests of remote communities across the territory. "I think it's time that land councils actually stood up and stopped pointing the finger," he said. Michael Rotumah says "systemic change" is needed to reduce crime in the NT. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) "They need to say 'right, we are also responsible for our people'. "We're here to work with government, we're here to work with Larrakia as traditional owners on this country where primarily a lot of visitors are coming to, and work together to deliver change." The Larrakia Nation leader said NT land councils needed to take more responsibility for helping get people back to their remote home communities, particularly those sleeping rough in Darwin. He also urged remote community leaders, "traditional lore men and women", to be more involved. "I think it's around respect," Mr Rotumah said. "We don't see Larrakia people going to other areas of the Northern Territory and behaving poorly on their country. "It's around educating and reminding people, this is also Aboriginal land — Darwin is Aboriginal land, and it's the land of the Larrakia people." Land council calls for end to 'bandaids' In response, Matthew Ryan, the chair of the NT's biggest and most influential Aboriginal land council, the Northern Land Council, agreed that Aboriginal groups needed to lead the charge for change. Northern Land Council chairman Matthew Ryan. ( ABC News: James Elton ) "On behalf of the Northern Land Council I extend my deepest and sincere condolences to Mr Feick's family following his tragic death," Mr Ryan said. "There is no place for the violent actions that have caused such devastating and avoidable loss of life. "The NLC has repeatedly called on the NT government to listen to Aboriginal people and community leaders, and to invest in programs that will address the root causes of these very complex issues. "But our calls have fallen on deaf ears with successive governments opting for short-term bandaids rather than working with us to fix systemic problems. "Organisations like Larrakia Nation are on the ground, showing leadership and delivering critical services against the backdrop of a broken system." Government insists it's working on long-term fixes On Thursday, in response to Mr Feick's death, the NT government Mr Rotumah said the new laws would further target Aboriginal people, and urged the government to focus more on fixing the root causes of the crime. "We need proper investment in remote communities around housing, education pathways, leadership, and that's what we're hoping to support and work with government [towards]," he said. Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the NT was experiencing a troubling increase in knife-related violence and urgent action was needed. Bouquets of flowers outside the Territory Friendly Grocer, where Linford Feick was fatally stabbed. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) However, she said the solution was not necessarily tougher laws and more arrests. "It's clear that more must be done to prevent crime, not just react to it," she said. Photo shows A woman addresses the media in a press confernece. The NT government has promised to urgently pass new bail laws to bring the territory in-line with Victoria and NSW. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said on Thursday she agreed it was "incredibly important" to address the root causes of crime, but her government was addressing the most urgent matters first. "This is a crisis that requires a crisis response," she said. She cited the government's creation of the circuit breaker program, family responsibility agreements, strengthening of parental accountability and work to address low school attendance as examples of long-term solutions it was working towards.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie national park spot hugely popular with campers reopens to the public after years
After six years of closure and a long-running dispute over cultural site protection, one of the country's most popular waterfalls is again set to open to tourists. Gunlom Falls, an iconic spot in the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, will officially reopen next month. It has been closed since late 2019, when the construction of a new walkway inadvertently disturbed a site sacred to the Jawoyn people, the traditional custodians of the land. The Northern Land Council (NLC) described the disturbance as a "deeply disrespectful violation" of Traditional Owners' rights. Parks Australia was later fined $200,000 under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, admitting fault and issuing a public apology in 2021. After years of negotiations, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek confirmed a new lease agreement had been secured between the Commonwealth and Kakadu's traditional owners, allowing the park to move forward. Gunlom Falls has long been a favourite among campers, offering breathtaking views, natural infinity pools and a serene bush setting perfect for an overnight stay under the stars. The Northern Land Council successfully negotiated an increase in annual rent to $10.7 million, up from previous figures, as part of the new lease terms, the NT News reported. Traditional Owners will now receive 50 per cent of commercial revenue, including entry fees, permits, camping charges, and licence fees, providing a greater financial return to Indigenous custodians. Online, Australians were overjoyed to hear the news. "Beautiful place. Please take care of it," a woman said. "How exciting," another wrote. "Please go! This place is truly magic," another commented. Gunlom Falls, located in Kakadu's rugged southern "stone country" region, is accessible only by 4WD, with the nearest hub being Cooinda, about an hour away, and Darwin, 4.5 hours. The falls have long been a favourite among Territory visitors, famous for their tiered rock pools, panoramic views and emerald-green swimming holes. Calls for major change at famous Aussie waterfall after double tragedy Tourists slammed for ' stupid' behaviour at notorious Aussie crossing Crocodile warning sign ignored by men 'with a death wish' They reach peak flow just after the wet season, making May the ideal time for reopening, with the newly constructed access track about a 15 to 20 minute hike. The reopening is expected to be a major boost for tourism in Kakadu, aligning perfectly with A Taste of Kakadu — a popular festival celebrating Indigenous culture, bush food and local storytelling which runs in late May. Kakadu Tourism Chair Lauren Ganley called it a "new era", emphasising the need for cultural respect in future park developments. "There is no destination in Australia more culturally unique than Kakadu," she said. "It's essential we present it in a way that respects the heritage and wishes of Traditional Owners. "The reopening of Gunlom Falls is part of a wider program to upgrade infrastructure to allow visitors to better appreciate Kakadu's natural wonders. Another major attraction — Twin Falls — will reopen next dry season after infrastructure upgrades, and there are plans for significant investment throughout the park to re-establish it as one of the world's leading national parks." With Qantas resuming direct Darwin-Singapore flights, tourism in Kakadu and the broader Northern Territory is expected to see an upswing. Meanwhile, Cooinda Lodge is upgrading its Outback Retreat glamping tents, with plans to add ensuite facilities to 10 of the 20 air-conditioned tents in preparation for increased visitor numbers. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
