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Balanggarra

Claim history:

The first Balanggarra native title application was filed in 1995 and covers 15,500 square kilometres of land in the northern Kimberley. A second Balanggarra application was filed a few months later, covering a further 10, 500 sq km. The claims were combined in 1999 and are now known as Balanggarra Combined.

The Balanggarra # 3 claim was filed in 2000 to cover the remaining country the Balanggarra people claim traditional ownership of. It covers the ILC-held Home Valley pastoral lease, part of the El Questro pastoral lease and the land north and south of the Wyndham township.

Discussions about the Balangarra people’s connection to country began between KLC and the State in 2001 and an agreed assessment process was finalised in 2004. In 2005, for the purposes of mediation, the State agreed to connection in relation to the mainland component of the Balanggarra Combined claim. Mediation should commence shortly.

It is hoped a consent determination can be reached in the near future and without too much difficulty. However, it has taken some time for the State Government of Western Australia to agree to connection in relation to the waters or islands of the combined claim, and it is yet to agree to the area identified as the Balanggarra # 3 claim. The State Government has also requested additional information in relation to the occupation requirements of all relevant claim areas.

Whilst work is progressing in relation to mediation of the Balanggarra Combined claim, the KLC has also begun work on obtaining and supplying additional material required by the State, in relation to the Balanggarra #3 claim and occupation requirements. 

It is anticipated mediation for the Balanggarra Combined and Balanggarra #3 claims will occur concurrently.  Despite there being some issues from third party respondents, the KLC is hopeful of obtaining a consent determination by the end of 2010.