LATEST NEWS

Australian 4x4 Gathering June 11 -15
Date: 10 Mar 2010
The 8th Australian 4x4 Gathering is to be held inland from Noosa Heads between 11 - 15 June. The Mitsubishi 4WD Club is hosting the event and welcomes inquiries from four wheel drivers and club groups. Don't miss this opportunity to get together with fellow enthusiasts. More info »

 

Queanbeyan 4WD Show
Date: 23 Jan 2010
The region's 4WD clubs will be having their biennial show at the Queanbeyan Showground over 13 & 14 February, 2010. Come and see what the clubs and the accessories industry participants have on display. More info »

 

Australian Four Wheel Drive Gathering 2010
Date: 13 Dec 2009
Six Months to Go! More info »

 

Australian Four Wheel Drive Gathering 2010
Date: 12 Nov 2009
The Mitsubishi 4WD Owners’ Club of Qld Inc is proud to be hosting the 8th Australian 4x4 Gathering over the period 11-15 June next year.  This is the first time the Gathering has been held in Queensland and we are working hard to ensure it will be a great event for all. More info »

 

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUSTRALIA
Date: 15 Oct 2009
Delegates at the recent meeting of the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council agreed that from now on, the registered trademark Four Wheel Drive Australia, will replace our ANFWDC logo on all promotional media. More info »

 

Read ALL NEWS »

Canning Stock Route - Expedition & Public Access

The ANFWDC was formed to address issues of national importance and access to the Canning Stock Route is considered to be nationally important due to its iconic status.

Since an incident involving travellers and a group of aboriginals, the Ngaanyatjarra Council circulated a letter to four wheel drive clubs regarding access to the Canning Stock Route. This letter generated some confusion as to whether permits were required and to what areas.

Why is a Permit needed?

The Canning Stock Route is a public access easement which varies in width along the length of the route. Moving off the track for camping should be limited to less than two kilometres. The Martu people are concerned about the protection of their native title rights and interests and their adjoining lands may not be accessed without a first obtaining a permit. Within the easement, springs and other sites including many wells are also subject to native title rights and require a permit to visit.

The ANFWDC’s proposal to provide a permit scheme for its members was accepted in competition with others. The scope of the permit scheme offered was enlarged to include all other travellers as requested by the Ngannyatjarra Council Native Title Unit & Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation. The scheme has been developed to provide permit holders access subject to the attached conditions. The permit covers the permit holder, their passenger(s) and their nominated vehicle. The permit is non – transferable and allows entry to visit approved sites as listed in the permit document. It covers the length of the Canning Stock Route from wells 5 to 40 as at 1st May 2007. Access from the south and north, or through adjacent properties is not provided by this permit and compliance with existing arrangements for passage through these roads and properties is the responsibility of the traveller.

Permit holders will be granted access by the traditional owners of the land to operate the nominated vehicle to the specified sites upon and adjacent to the stock route easement. The issuing of this permit on behalf of the Martu people by the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council will be for a period of one month from the date nominated by the applicant in the case of private individuals and twelve months for commercial tour operators at the fees set from time to time.

    This permit does not allow access to the following sites:

    This permit allows access to visit the following sites:

The complete permit document package must be carried at all times within the vehicle. The permit holder must provide the permit for inspection if requested to do so by a representative of the traditional owners or a law enforcement officer.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS USING THE CSR DIRECT TO AND FROM WILUNA 

 

Birriliburu  Native Title Determination The Birriliburu native title holders were granted their exclusive possession native title in June 2008.  In practical terms the level of rights that may be expressed in such a determination includes but is not limited to, the right:a)    live on the determination areab)    make decisions about the use and enjoyment of the determination areac)     hunt and gatherd)    control access to, and activities conducted by others on the land of the determination areae)    maintain and protect sites and areas that are of significance to the common law holders and traditional law and custom Exclusive use, occupation, possession and enjoyment of native title that in most cases entry onto Birriliburu lands will require the consent of the Birriliburu native title holders. The Birriliburu native title holders all self identify as Martu; one of the larger groups of traditional Aboriginal people belonging to the Western Desert society. The  Western Desert society of law and culture takes in a great expanse of the arid interior of Western Australia and parts of the Northern Territory and South Australia.   The majority of Martu still live on or close to their traditional lands in desert communities such as Wiluna, Jigalong, Newman, Parngurr, Punmu and Kunawarritji

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The Canning Stock Route The Birriliburu native title claim takes in part of  the Canning Stock Route  (CSR) which runs through the Western half of the determined area, Wells 5-15.  (see map) While the historical activity on the CSR has varied over the years, the steady increase in tourist traffic has become a significant issue for the Birriliburu native title holders.  In recent times there has been much discussion between the Birriliburu native title holders and other land holding groups along the length of the CSR, about the proper management of tourism in relation to the CSR.  To date these discussions have been dominated by the issue of access to country adjacent to the CSR.  The Birriliburu native title holders recognize that there is a great degree of interest from travellers wanting to  learn more about the country and the people who ‘hold’ the country traversed by the CSR. The Birriliburu native title holders understand that many of the requests to visit places like the Canarvon Ranges are made by travellers who are  genuinely interested in the history,  traditions and stories of the Martu people. At present the Birriliburu native title holders are in the process of developing a body corporate which will  manage their native title rights and interests including access to places within the determined area.  Central Desert Native Title Services (“Central Desert”) are supporting the Birriliburu native title holders in the establishment of this organization. It is envisioned that in the near future,  this body will deal directly with  land access issues including the development of a detailed land access permit system for the Birriliburu native title determined area.  Until such time as the permit system is developed, the Birriliburu native title holders request that travellers please observe the conditions of the CSR transit permit and do not travel off the CSR while in the Birriliburu native title determined area.  If you would like to find out some further information about the Martu people and their relation to the Canning Stock Route, the following texts are recommended:1.     Tonkinson, R.   The Mardu Aborigines: Living the Dream in Australia’s Desert2.     Davenport, S. Johnson, P. and Yuwali  Cleared Out3.     Peasley, W.E    The Last of the Nomads  It is also worthwhile visiting the shire office at Wiluna which houses the Tjukurba Art Gallery containing many paintings relating to the country surrounding the CSR. These paintings  are  by artists  who are Birriliburu native title holders themselves.  For any further information please contact:  reception@centraldesert.org.au 

Now proceed to the click button to apply for the Permit between wells 15 to 40.

  



   

 

Page last updated: 08 Sep 2009