The Yamatji Land Estate is a major benefit of the ILUA, comprising of approximately 150,000 hectares of land in some 1,385 separate land parcels.
The Yamatji Land Estate consists of a variety of land parcels including Freehold, Conditional Freehold, and Reserve with Management Order. These reserves include both 'Power to Lease' and 'Without Power to Lease.' The land holdings within the Yamatji Land Estate are distributed as follows:
Yamatji Land Estate
Tenure Type Parcels Hectares
Number of Parcels*
Sum of Area in Hectares
Freehold
25
30.1
Reserves With Option To Convert To Freehold
460
1,177
Reserve Without Power To Lease
795
54,086.9
Reserve With Power To Lease
87
83886.1
Totals
1,385
153,805.1
14,624.8
Conditional Freehold
18
*Note the number of land parcels changes overtime through amalgamations.
Making Progress on the Yamatji Land Estate
The process of transferring the land estate to YSRC includes a number of due diligence steps before it is transferred from the State to YSRC. This includes negotiation on the terms of each parcel so we can be sure that the property is useable and not impaired by pollution or restrictive conditions. The Land Transfer process will take at least 2 years and there are a number of steps in the process.
When the land is transferred, we will be responsible for the costs associated with management.
We are currently developing the Land Access Policy which will help guide how the land is used going forward. This is a requirement of the ILUA.
Land Transfer Process
In February 2024, the Joint Trustees and BYAC have approved the acceptance of more land parcels to be transferred to Yamatji control and ownership.
We will continue to work with Government and Proponents on potential economic projects that will provide ongoing income for YSRC and its members.
Maps of the Yamatji Land Estate
Category 1 Lands (those identified and accepted in the ILUA).
Economic Development Land.
Native Title Areas.
Remaining Yamatji Land Estate.
As of September 2022, the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage has presented all 1363 land parcels to the Land Transfer Working Group, completing stage 1. While the majority of these have been (or are about to be) formally accepted, there are approximately 100 land parcels that require further investigation and negotiation. In the next phase, before land is accepted, YSRC will engage widely with the Yamatji Nation, including through the Cultural Committees, to ensure all voices are heard, and right people for right country are involved in decision-making process for the Yamatji Land Estate.