Shellharbour is set to become the latest council to join legal proceedings on the massive South Coast native title claim, which would give indigenous people along the coast traditional fishing rights in the area.
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Covering about about 17,000 square kilometres from the Royal National Park to south of Eden, the claim covers population centres like Wollongong, Shellharbour, Nowra and Bega and extends three nautical miles into ocean.
There are 52 family groups associated with the claim and more than 500 Aboriginal people met in Narooma 2016 to approve the submission to the Federal Court.
One of the claimants, Wally Stewart of Narooma, told Fairfax Media that the claim meant indigenous people would have a greater say in the management of land and sea, through bodies like National Parks or NSW Department of Primary Industries, as well as local councils.
Now, Shellharbour council staff have advised councillors to become a party to the claim, as this would allow the council to “represent the community’s interests including the interests of our Aboriginal community in negotiations” with the court.
Outlining the financial and social risks associated with the claim, council staff said there would be legal costs and costs relating to staff time for preparing documents for court. These were “not possible to determine” at this time.
The council has also said it “may be exposed to substantial risks” relating to its existing management of Crown Land, and affect services and activities on this land.
“A successful native title claim may expose council to compensation claims,” the staff report said.
A number of other councils – including Shoalhaven council last week – have already agreed to become a party to the claim.
Councils have until August 29 to join the legal action.
Shellharbour councillors will debate the claim on Tuesday.