Lockridge land handed over to Swan Valley Nyungah Community

2/9/94

The long struggle by the Swan Valley Nyungah Community for secure tenure over their Lockridge camp site had a happy ending today when Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kevin Prince officially handed the land over to community leader Bob Bropho.

Commending Mr Bropho over his 17-year battle for the land, Mr Prince said it was a great day for the Swan Valley Nyungah Community.

"When I look at the history of your struggle for this place, I can do nothing but admire your persistence, and applaud you for it," the Minister said.

"No criticism of the bureaucracy is intended, but I have to say that it seems each department and each level of government you have dealt with appears to have assumed another department would help you.

"All departments tried to do their best, but with little co-ordination between them."

Mr Prince said the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority had accepted responsibility for co-ordination and thanked AAPA head Cedric Wyatt and his officers for their hard work and commitment. 

However, despite the community's frustration he was sure some good had come from the experience.

"The way this community has been frustrated has confirmed my view that the problem in Aboriginal affairs is not a lack of funds and certainly not a lack of commitment - it has been a lack of co-ordination," the Minister said.

"That will not happen in future.  Because of what has happened to the Swan Valley Nyungah people, the agencies involved from local, State and Commonwealth Governments are now working together."

Mr Prince said the AAPA, ATSIC, Aboriginal Housing Board, the Health Department, the Department of Community Development, the Department of Land Administration and the Swan Shire Council were co-ordinating their efforts to ensure everything they did was done not only in unison, but also in consultation with the community.

"It is my hope this co-ordination and consultation will become something of a model for all Aboriginal communities," he said.

Mr Prince said departments were now working with the Swan Valley Nyungah Community Aboriginal Corporation to develop a community plan with the provision of infrastructure and appropriate housing as the first priority.

"We will do everything possible to ensure power, water, sewerage, access roads and decent housing are in place before next winter's rain and cold sets in," he said.

"Along with those major priorities we have also identified a number of urgent improvements needed in the areas of environmental health, general health and safety and maintenance, ranging from the provision of heating to the provision of simple tools for maintenance.

"These issues are to be addressed immediately."

Mr Prince commended the Bropho family and the community who had worked very hard to secure their land.

Media contact:  Tony Barker-May 366 0300