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Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014 Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Northern Land Council Annual Report 2013-14 2 Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORt 2013-2014 The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Our Vision: A Territory in which the land rights of traditional owners are legally recognised, and Aboriginal people benefit economically, socially and culturally from the secure possession of our lands and seas. Our Values: Our values are informed by the values of the Aboriginal people of our region and are consistent with Commonwealth standards. Our Objective: To achieve enhanced social, political and economic participation and equity for Aboriginal people through the promotion, protection and advancements of our land rights, other rights and interests. Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORt 2013-2014 3 The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Measuring Our Performance Outcomes Framework Strategic Plan The Northern Land Council The NLC engaged consultants The new plan will build (NLC), along with the other OTS Management to undertake upon the achievements Northern Territory (NT) strategic planning workshops and describes its goals and land councils, has adopted with the Full Council during vision for the future. The a consistent approach to 2011- 2012. The Full Council plan provides the framework measuring and reporting on provided direction to hold for the continuing strategic performance. This reporting separate workshops with management of the NLC and approach assists stakeholders each of the seven Regional reflects the outcomes and to benchmark the NLC’s Councils; this resulted in outputs framework agreed performance and to gain an Executive Summary. The with the Minister. an understanding of the draft strategic plan now Throughout the life of the plan, similarities and differences requires further editing and the NLC intends to deliver its between the Land Councils. consultation with staff. It is services by focusing on the key anticipated that an updated The NLC is working to achieve result areas of providing high version will be completed and enhanced social, political quality professional advice, presented to a Full Council and economic participation based on strong relationships Meeting in December 2014 and equity for Aboriginal with our clients, using highly for endorsement. people in its jurisdiction as skilled people and strategic a result of the promotion, Throughout this financial partnerships. protection and advancements reporting year, apart from The NLC’s strategic plan can be of our land rights, other rights our core legislative provisions downloaded from the website at and interests. the 2007-2011 Strategic Plan www.nlc.org.au. remains the guiding document that set out our organisation’s principal objectives. © Commonwealth of Australia 2014 ISSN 1030-522X With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms Cover image: Caroline Dhamarrandji paints the NLC and where otherwise noted, all material presented in this water serpent logo in readiness for a protest against document, the Northern Land Council Annual Report Northern Territory Government’s (NTG) water allocation 2013-2014, is provided under a Creative Commons plans, Katherine May 2014 (see page 24). Licence. The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode and creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ 4 Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORt 2013-2014 The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Corporate Plan The NLC’s Corporate Plan » How we will measure our The planning framework that describes how, in discharging performance, and NLC reports on has been its responsibilities under the » The factors that are critical accepted as best practice Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern to our success and useful in satisfying Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA), Native performance audits of the Title Act 1993 (NTA) and other To assist with the NLC. The NLC acknowledges relevant legislation, the NLC implementation of the that policies and procedures will set priorities, manage Strategic and Corporate should be reviewed in line resources and achieve results Plans the NLC has developed with strategic directions of for the traditional Aboriginal an integrated planning and the organisation. owners and affected Aboriginal performance framework. people within our region. The framework ensures that The Corporate Plan describes: the strategic directions and » Who we are performance requirements outlined in its Strategic and » What we do Corporate plans cascade » Our vision into the lower level Output » Our values Group and Program plans. » Our operating environment All subsidiary plans now have direct links with the Strategic » Our Outcomes and Plan and provide progressively Key Result Areas increasing levels of detail » Our Key Priorities on the implementation of and Programmes strategies and actions across the NLC’s output areas. Below: Children at 2013 Garma Festival at Gulkula, north east Arnhem Land. Photograph, Yothu Yindi Foundation Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORt 2013-2014 5 The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Contents Measuring Our Performance 4 Strategic Plan Outcomes Framework 4 Strategic Plan 4 Shaping the NLC Region’s Future 29 Corporate Plan 5 Caring for Country and Natural Resources 29 About This Report 10 Land Claims and Acquisition Support Services 29 Fast Facts 12 Economic Development and Commercial Services 29 The Northern Land Council: Advocacy Services 30 Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life 14 Administration and Support Services 31 History 14 Our Region and its constituents 15 The Year Ahead 32 Enhanced social, political and economic Development Prospectus 32 participation 16 Community Development Program 32 Ord 3 Expansion 33 A Word From Our Chairman 17 Water Allocation Plans 33 A Word From Our Chief Executive Officer 19 Employment 33 McArthur River Mine 34 Blue Mud Bay 34 The Year in Review Administration 35 Highlights 23 40th Anniversary of ALRA 35 New CEO 23 Council Information Native Title Consent Determinations 23 Regional Map 38 Muckaty 24 Water 24 Our Council 39 Development Approvals 24 Our Executive Council Members 40 Summary of Financial Performance 25 Katherine Region 40 External Funding 25 Darwin/Daly/Wagait Region 40 Challenges 25 Borroloola/Barkly Region 40 East Arnhem Region 41 The Year at a Glance 26 Darwin/Daly/Wagait Region 41 Commonwealth Authorities (Annual West Arnhem Region 41 Reporting) Orders 2011 Compliance 27 Ngukurr 42 Report of Operations 27 Victoria River District 42 Fees 27 Katherine Region 42 Significant events 27 Key Changes 27 Amendments to Enabling Legislation 27 External Scrutiny 27 6 Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORt 2013-2014 The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Our Full Council Members 44 Land Claims and Acquisitions Support Services Council Meetings 46 Full Council 46 Land Claims 79 Executive Council Meetings 48 Support Services 80 Regional Council Meetings 49 A Selection of Anthropology Region Profiles 83 Our People Organisation Administration 51 Native Title Report About The Native Title Act 90 Organisational Structure 52 Native Title Quick Facts 91 Branch Overview 53 Native Title Determination Applications 91 Anthropology 53 Native Title Applications Statistics 2013-14 91 Corporate Services 53 Update on Continuing Claims Work 92 Minerals and Energy 53 The NLC’s native title pastoral consent Caring for Country 53 determination process 92 Regional Development 53 Legal 54 Staff Perspective 96 Secretariat 54 Kylie Burn 96 Management of Human Resources 54 Nomination of a Prescribed Body Corporate 97 Safe Work Environment 55 Compensation Applications 98 Performance Notifications 98 Future Act Notices 98 Permits 59 Agreement Making 98 Indigenous Pastoral Program 2013 – 2014 60 Land and Sea Management Other Functions 99 Staff Training and Natural Resources and Development 99 Caring for Country 63 Aurora Internships 100 Working in Partnerships 63 Achievements 66 Economic Development and Increasing efficiency of land Commercial Services management in the Arafura Swamp 70 Land Use Agreements 103 ILC Groups 72 Commercial Development 105 Parks and Reserves 73 Joint Management 73 Regional Office Network 106 Kenbi Rangers Marine Mammal Achievements 107 Monitoring – Bynoe Harbour – March 2014 77 Challenges 107 Northern Land Council ANNUAL REPORt 2013-2014 7 The Northern Land Council: Our Land, Our Sea, Our Life Employment, Education and Training 108 NLC Financial Report Territory Iron – Frances Creek Project 109 Glossary of Terms 226 Mining (Includes Energy and Resources Compliance Index 228 Exploration) 110 Tables Advocacy Services Public Awareness and Education 126 Table 1: Financial Performance over Five Years 26 Funeral and Ceremonial Fund 127 Cultural and Heritage Support 128 Table 2: Formal Advice on Traditional ownership 128 Executive Council Meeting dates LIR Database Report 130 and attendance record during 2013-14 48 GIS Section 132 Table 3: Other Projects 132 Regional Council Meeting dates Sea Rights 133 and venue during 2013-14 49 Table 4: Distribution of Aboriginal living areas Administration and Support Services across NLC anthropology regions 80 Distributions 135 Table 5: Administering Aboriginal Land Trusts 135 Aboriginal owned land and native title interests 82 Mediation and Dispute Resolution 136 Table 6: Statistics relating to native title claims processes 91 Corporate Governance 137 Exemptions
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