MediaRelease
VictorianAboriginalHeritage Council
Monday,24September2007
HERITAGECOUNCILAPPOINTS MOREREGISTEREDABORIGINAL PARTIES
The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council has appointed threenew registeredAboriginal parties (RAPS)undertheAboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2006 tobettermanageand protecttheState’s culturalheritage.
Thechair ofVictoria’sAboriginalHeritageCouncil,RickyMullettsaid“theCouncilisgettingonwith thejobof appointingRAPsacross Victoria.RAPswill have keyresponsibilitiesformanagingand protectingAboriginalheritageintheirlocal area.”
“AtitsSeptembermeeting,theCouncilregistered3newRAPs
•Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation Ltd has beenregisteredfor innorthern Victoria over areapreviouslysubject totheYortaYortaClansnativetitleapplication. TheCouncilis continuing toconsiderregistrationofBanegrang CommunityCulturalCo-operativeLtdasaRAP.
•Barengi GadjinLand Council Aboriginal Corporation has beenregisteredfor theareaover which theyhold native title. The Council iscontinuing toconsider itsbroaderapplication forRAPrecognition.
•Martang PtyLtdhasbeenregisteredoverpartofitsapplicationareain Victoria’ssouth- west. TheCounciliscontinuingtoconsideritsbroaderapplicationforRAPrecognitionanda numberofotherRAPapplicationsforpartofthesame area.
“WhenCouncildecidestoappointaregisteredAboriginalparty,welookatanumberoffactors.” “These include relevant native title matters,links toCountry, expertise in managing culturalheritageandcapacitytomeettherequirementsoftheAct,”MrMullettsaid.
“VictorianowhasfourRAPs,whoare allwellplacedtomanageandprotecttheculturalheritageof theirCountry.”
Registered Aboriginal partieswill work with thecommunity, government and industry toensure culturalheritageisanintegralpartofland management.
TheCouncilappointedtheGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnerCorporationinVictoria’ssouthwest asthefirstregisteredAboriginalpartyinMaythisyear.TheCouncilisconsideringafurther16 applications.
MEDIAENQUIRES:phone JacquieO’Brien0409115003.
ForfurtherinformationontheCouncilvisit: