The NSW Government and the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council today announced a statement of intent to negotiate the potential transfer of ownership of Peat Island to Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council has submitted a land claim for the land, now known as Peat Island, and seeks to use it to further economic and cultural opportunities for the local Aboriginal community and all Australians.
This includes the possible development of an Aboriginal Discovery Centre, Indigenous Walking Path and cultural tourism opportunities that will capture and help preserve the rich Aboriginal cultural heritage on and surrounding Peat Island.
Minister for Planning and Homes Anthony Roberts said the announcement was a testimony to the significant work undertaken to identify the future land use for Peat Island.
"The collaboration with Darkinjung will aim to reunite the site with the custodians of the land, ensuring it will be preserved and acknowledged well into the future," Mr Roberts said.
"The NSW Government will continue working with Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council through the planning processes."
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said the statement of intent marked another step forward in reconciliation.
"The Government recognises the significance of Peat Island, in both its Indigenous and European histories, and the impact it has had on all Australians over the last hundred years," Mr Crouch said.
"Working with the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council gives us an opportunity to partner with a local land council to pay respect to these shared histories.
"We are also working closely with local community representatives to establish a memorial in the proposed chapel precinct to remember the residents of the island's institutional past."
Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson, B J Duncan said: "This is an enormous opportunity for the local Aboriginal community and all Central Coast residents, providing an economic future and strengthening culture for the grandchildren of our grandchildren.
"We will create something that showcases and preserves Aboriginal culture and contemporary Australian history in a way that respects the past use of Peat Island and its former residents.
"Peat Island can become a centrepiece of Australia's cultural tourism in NSW, showing that you don't need to go to Central or Northern Australia to celebrate the richness of Aboriginal culture and heritage in contemporary Australia," Mr Duncan said.
The current planning proposal for Peat Island and Mooney Mooney, which seeks to allow new land uses for Peat Island and surrounds, will clear the way for Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council's vision.
The NSW Government looks forward to working through the community submissions.
