Aboriginal Lands

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Following the introduction of the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993, resulting from the High Court Mabo judgement, Aboriginal people are now able to seek recognition of their Native Title to land.

Native Title is the name Australian law gives to the traditional ownership of land and waters that have always belonged to Aboriginal people according to their traditions, laws and customs.

To enter or even travel through most Aboriginal lands, you will need to obtain a special permit and currently there are 2 main types:

Transit permit:- which only allows through travel with no stops or entry to any areas other than the designated road.
Access/Entry permit:- which allows entry to a designated area for a specific reason and within a specific time frame.

Ensure that you check maps carefully for information regarding required permits and apply well in advance. Some permits take up to 5 weeks to be processed. To apply for Aboriginal Transit or Access/Entry Permits contact the relevant office as shown below:

 Aboriginal Lands Trust of WA

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Generally, most transit permits for aboriginal lands are able to be issued by the Aboriginal Lands Trust of WA. The Trust is a part of the Department of Indigenous Affairs. Applications can be made on-line at www.dia.wa.gov.au and simply follow the prompts.

 Central Reserves Area

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Central Reserves Area (which extends some little way over the borders into both NT and SA), includes: The Great Central Road, Gunbarrel Highway and the abandoned section of the Old Gunbarrel Highway, Giles-Mulga Park Road from Warakurna to Wingellina and Surveyor General’s Corner, the Gary Highway, Gary Junction Road and the Sandy Blight Junction Track. It also includes the Docker River area (but not the Community) which is actually in NT. (Docker River is one of those areas where you will need two permits. The WA side takes you essentially from the Docker River Community, west across the border and on down the Great Central Road. For the NT side, see the article: Permits for Northern Territory.

Surveyor-Generals Corner

Permits for Surveyor-General’s Corner are $100 per vehicle plus $20 per person, but you do get an escort/guide to take you out there and tell you a bit about the history of the Corner.

Sandy Blight Junction and Gary Junction

The Sandy Blight Junction Track and the Gary Junction Road are two other examples of tracks where two permits are required. One permit is required for the parts that fall within Western Australia (Ngaanyatjarra Council) and another for the parts that fall within the Northern Territory, (Central Land Council).

Currently, the Ngaanyatjarra Council will not issue a permit for the Sandy Blight Junction Track until you are able to produce your permit for the same track from the Central Land Council. Access to the Sandy Blight Junction Track has recently been reviewed and permits to transit that part of the track which falls within the NT are once again being issued by the Central Land Council.

Gunbarrel Highway

Permits are not being issued for travel on the Gunbarrel Highway between Jackie Junction and the Heather Highway/Gunbarrel Highway intersection. Access to/from the Gunbarrel Highway must be via the Heather Highway. Very special conditions apply for travel along the Abandoned Section of the Old Gunbarrel Highway between Warakurna and Warburton. Details may be obtained from either the Ngaanyatjarra Council or the WA Department of Indigenous Affairs website.

If you wish to access actual communities, then it is also best to ring that community and speak to them direct regarding any requirements.

 Canning Stock Route

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From May 2007, the holding of an appropriate Permit has become necessary if you wish to visit any of the very numerous Aboriginal Sites located either on, or adjacent to, the Canning Stock Route between Well 5 and Well 40. There are a whole series of such sites - these are detailed within our Canning Stock Route Trek Note.

Essentially, all of the land adjacent to the Canning Stock Route Reserve between Well 5 and Well 40 has been granted to the Martu people under the Native Title Act, 1993, and is now restricted access land. So in essence, if you wish to leave the actual Canning Stock Route vehicular track, a permit to do so is now required. And, even though some of the sites are actually located within the Stock Route Reserve, they are nonetheless registered and protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, 1972, and as such, a permit is required to visit them.

The actual gazetted Canning Stock Route Reserve itself is generally about 8 kilometres wide. In the main, the vehicular track that you follow stays within the Reserve. However, there are a number of locations where the track itself is actually outside of, the gazetted Reserve. At times, it is up to 10 kilometres outside it. This should not however cause any difficulties, provided you remain on the track itself, and do not deviate from it unless you have an appropriate Permit.

If you simply wish to travel the Canning Stock Route itself, and have no intention whatever of deviating from it, (and that includes for the purposes of camping at night, and collecting water from any of the wells, etc., located off the track), then you can do so without the need for a permit. However, the moment you actually leave the vehicular track, you run the risk of entering an Aboriginal Site. The best course of action therefore is to apply for, and be in possession of a Permit that covers you for all of the areas that you may wish to visit.

From 1 May, 2007 the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council website (www.anfwdc.asn.au) is the main point of contact for the issuing of Permits. The website has an on-line Permit application and payment process. Current prices are $50 per vehicle Permit and $15 postage for the package, if it is to be mailed to an address within Australia. Postage outside Australia is $27. Permits are valid for a one month period.

If after reading all the information published on ExplorOz on the Canning Stock Route Trek Note, and the ANFWDC website, you require any further information, or if you want to discuss any proposed plans with an expert.


N.B.: Do not apply to the Ngaanyatjarra Council in Alice Springs for a Permit in relation to the Canning Stock Route.

 Kimberley Region

Kimberley Land Council

The Kimberley Land Council (or KLC) was established in 1978 by Aboriginal people to work for the protection of traditional land and waters. It is an association of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region who are charged with the responsibility to advocate for, and protect, enhance and gain formal status (legal, social and political) for the customs, laws and traditions of Kimberley Traditional Owners.


Inquiries from the Kimberley Land Council at Derby showed that if you wished to visit any communities in the Kimberley, the best way is simply to report in to the Community on the day of your visit, (but not weekends), and purchase a permit on the day.

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Kalumburu

To visit Kalumburu you will need to gain a Permit via the Aboriginal Lands Trust in Perth. This can be done on-line, and is free. (See above). This Permit however, only gives you permission to enter the Kalumburu Reserve. Once you get to the Kalumburu Community you will need a Kalumburu Recreation Entry Permit. These can be obtained, at a cost of $35 per vehicle, from the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation Office, the Kwini Store or the Kalumburu Catholic Mission. Alternatively, you can apply by post to the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation, enclosing a cheque for $35 made out to the same body. Allow at least a month for the permit to be returned to you.

Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation

Phone: (08) 9161 4300
Fax: (08) 9161 4332
Email: kac@bigpond.com

Fuel is not available in Kalumburu over the weekend. The Corporation Office is also closed over the weekend.

Once you arrive at Kalumburu there is only one place to camp in the Community itself, and that is at the Catholic Mission. It’s a very cool, grassed and shaded camp site with good showers and toilets. Well worth the modest charge. Camping on the coast is only available at Honeymoon Bay, McGowan’s and Pago. These camping areas are all operated by members of the Community, and offer very basic camping only at about $10 per person per day. You can also camp within Drysdale National Park. Access is through the Carson River Pastoral Station which is operated by the Community. A Recreation Entry Permit is required to access any of the camping areas and to gain access through Carson River Pastoral Station.

Access to Truscott Airfield; west of the King Edward River and to Winanghie Beach is prohibited.

Dampier Peninsula

The northern beaches and numerous aboriginal communities on the Dampier Peninsula are connected via the unsealed Cape Leveque Road. Camping is prohibited except at specified destinations. Dogs are not permitted on the peninsula.

Bard Creek - Coulomb Point

4WD access to numerous coastal campsites (no facilities) accessible off the Cape Leveque Road. Popular fishing spots.

Beagle Bay

No accommodation or camping available. Entry to the community - $5.50. Must be paid on arrival which allows access to the Beagle Bay church.

Middle Lagoon

Bookings essential for camping or cabins. Phone: (08) 9192 4002

Lombadina

No camping allowed. Units available - bookings essential. Phone: (08) 9192 4930
A permit is required to enter the community, payable on arrival - $5.50 per vehicle.

Kooljaman - Cape Leveque

Permits no longer required but accommodation bookings essential for camping, safari tents, beach cabins/shelters and units. Phone: (08) 9192 4970

 Mine Roads and Railways

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Trans Continental Railway

You can now only follow the rail line from Kalgoorlie to Rawlinna. It is illegal to travel east of Rawlinna and absolutely no permits are being issued. In South Australia you are also permitted to travel the few kilometres along the rail line past Tarcoola to pick up Googs Track. (The track beside the rail line is now on private property. This was a result of the corporatisation of Australian National Railways. Regrettably, there had been far too many instances of travelers breaking down, or needing help, and they were, incredibly, flagging down the trains! Management have now simply barred access and will have transgressors dealt with as trespassers. The fine can be quite hefty. You have been warned!).

Hamersley Iron Railway Line

To drive the track which parallels the Hamersley Iron Railway Line from Tom Price to Dampier you MUST apply IN PERSON at either the:

• Tom Price Tourist Information Service (08) 9188 1112


• Karratha Visitor Centre (08) 9144 4600


• Roebourne Visitor Centre (08) 9182 1060


• Pannawonica Office & Library (08) 9184 1038

You MUST do this in person as you will be required to sit through about a 15 minute video which mainly concentrates on the rail safety aspects of the trip, and then you will be issued with your permit.

Telfer Mine Road

To use this road you don’t need a permit, but you do need to notify the Mine Manager of your intentions. A few weeks before your visit write a letter to: The Village Manager, Newcrest Mining, Telfer, WA 6762, informing the Manager of who you are; where and how you can be contacted; the numbers and details of vehicles including: make, colour, registration number and State of registration; driver and passengers names; and the likely date/s of being on their road; your direction of travel and destination. Don’t forget to thank them for the access. You will have to stop at a Security Check Point.

 WA National Parks

You should also bear in mind that many WA National Parks charge both an entry fee and a nightly camping fee. Quite a number of those fees are payable by way of self registration when you enter the park. Other parks have ranger stations to which you must report, and others are controlled by the very effective and efficient “Park Hosts” system.

If you are going to be in WA for some time, you might like to consider gaining a “WA All Parks Pass” before you go. This Pass in 2008 cost just $75 or $50 if you have a concession card and gives you access to all WA National Parks as many times as you like within a 12 month period. The Pass does not however cover any camping fees which may be payable.

ExplorOz is proud to be official agents for the complete range of WA CALM permits, including the Annual Parks Pass.

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WA Dept of C.A.L.M.

Head Office - Hackett Drive, CRAWLEY 6009
Postal: Locked Bag 104, BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE 6983
Phone: +61 (08) 9334 0333 and ask for a Customer Service Officer
Fax: +61 (08) 9334 0498
Website: WA Dept of C.A.L.M.
Email Enquiries

 WA Coast

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Steep Point

Steep Point, the westernmost point in Australia, is located on private property. A Ranger, with some powers, has been appointed by the property owners, and is resident in a cottage on the major access track. You can’t miss it going in, there is a big sign advising all travelers to report to the Ranger Station. In 2008, a day trip cost $22 per vehicle, payable at the Ranger Station. Entry fees for camping were $22 per vehicle plus $5.50 per person per night. Camping sites are located on and behind many of the beaches. The ranger can point you in the right direction depending on bookings and wind direction. A trip from Hamelin Pool Caravan Park and Telegraph Station (phone: 08 9942 5905) to Steep Point and return can easily be completed in a day. As long as you get an early start you will have ample time to savour the views, take photos, and perhaps return via the Zuytdorp Cliffs. Make sure you have an operating air compressor with you as you MUST lower your tyre pressures to 20 psi when you come to the first sand dunes, and you will need to put them back to your normal dirt road pressures when you exit.


This article has been extracted from a document supplied by the contributing author and the Toyota Land Cruiser Club Of Australia Sydney.

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