17 November, 2014
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council has committed $16 million to a new Economic Development Policy over the next 5 years.
The policy will encompass 4 guiding principles including Self-Determination, Community Development for Economic Self-Reliance, Coordination not Duplication and Strong Leadership.
The policy was launched at the NSWALC office based in Parramatta in late October.
NSWALC Chairperson Craig Cromelin spoke about the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Sand Dune Adventure business as being at the heart of the policy. For the past two years, it’s won a Gold Award for excellence in Tourism, a shining example of a successful business enterprise. From humble beginnings it now employs 23 Aboriginal people.
“We know it will take time, but our shared dream through this policy is to see more businesses like Worimi Sand Dune Adventures across the State.” he said.
Speaking at the launch NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Victor Dominello, welcomed NSWALC’s commitment to wealth creation for Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
“If you marry this Policy with the Land Rights legislation that’s currently before Parliament, you get a very powerful engine. So this isn’t simply an engine maintenance program, this is an engine upgrade.” he said.
The changes come following the first statutory review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 in over 30 years.
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council Economic Development Unit (EDU) has already held forums in all nine NSWALC regions and there is high interest from Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
The EDU are still accepting Expressions of Interest until the end of November so if you would like to submit your idea, please contact a member of the EDU on (02) 9689 4419 now as the deadline to receive EOI’s will not be extended.
Once the EOI’s are received, they will be submitted to an Independent assessment panel for initial feedback with 18 applicants to be selected by December 2014 for the trial implementation phase from January to June 2015.
