Cape York Heads of Agreement - a progress report
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In February 1996, a diverse mix of interests, including Cape York cattle producers, conservation groups and Cape York aboriginal groups, negotiated the ground breaking Cape York Land Use Agreement, or Heads of Agreement. For a copy of the Agreement, click here...
The Agreement recommended that -
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native title issues should be resolved through good faith negotiation
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that steps be taken to create a genuinely ecologically sustainable cattle industry
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that a region wide scientific assessment of the international and national environmental significance be completed
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that a fund be established to purchase lands of high conservation significance
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that these lands should be assessed for World Heritage values
Recently, the Beattie Queensland Government breathed new life into the Heads of Agreement process by deciding in September 2001 to become a party to the Agreement and to formally adopt its principles as the basis for resolving land management issues across the Peninsular.
As a result, the Queensland Government has now established a high level group, the Cape York Heads of Agreement Implementation Group, to turn the vision of the Agreement into reality.
Chaired by two senior Ministers and including representatives of the original parties to the Agreement, the Implementation Group has terms of reference to:
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Direct development of a comprehensive conservation plan for the entire Cape
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Integrate Commonwealth and State conservation strategies
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Complete Property Plans, including resolution of native title and environmental issues
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Provide advice on the protection of high conservation value lands
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Develop a model agreement over a nominated sub region of the Peninsular in line with the principles of the Heads of Agreement
This group has now met three times.
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