YAWURU BILLINGURRU APPLICATION WILL NOT LIMIT ACCESS TO CABLE BEACH

Written on the 20 October 2016

The Commonwealth Government has published a notice of Application for protection of an area along Cable Beach known as Billingurru.

Yawuru is not launching the application with the intention to exclude the public from public areas.

The Billingurru area is part of the jointly managed Yawuru Conservation Estate which contains a number of sites that are already registered under State Aboriginal heritage protection.

In response to a history of continual encroachment upon the area, Yawuru applied to the Commonwealth to protect a traditional area under section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.

The area of Billingurru is a sensitive saltwater ecosystem that encompasses delicate sand dunes and cultural sites that are important to Yawuru people.  Yawuru has responsibility, under joint management plans with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, for the management of lands and waters within the Yawuru Conservation Estate.   Yawuru takes this responsibility seriously and respects the environment and heritage under its care.  Yawuru appreciate that Broome's broader community also values the natural environment and cultural heritage.

All potential development within the Shire of Broome needs to undertake the rigorous state planning and approval processes that apply to all landholders, no matter who they are. The same applies to this area of land and any concerns that this application will impact access to Cable Beach are unfounded.

Debra Pigram, Chair of Nyamba Buru Yawuru says "This notice of application is a Commonwealth Government process that we respect and abide by.  We hope that the community is not swayed by mischievous speculation and appreciates the process currently being undertaken by the Commonwealth concerning the specific significance of this area and impact on Yawuru's cultural sites".