A HIGHLY publicised and lauded $1.6 million community project earmarked for South Kempsey has been scrapped due to an Aboriginal land claim.
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The ‘Our Place: South Kempsey Recreational Parklands Project’ was to be part of the South Kempsey ‘One Community, One Mob’ urban social plan and was a direct result of Kempsey Shire Council-driven consultation with South Kempsey residents in 2012.
The project was to transform unused Crown Land between Queen and Vernon streets, South Kempsey, through the construction of a new playground, exercise trails, a walkway and landscape improvements.
The parklands project was successful in receiving a $500,000 grant in 2013 under the former Labor Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) and was launched by then Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott in June 2013. The project was supported by Nationals Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, after the Coalition came to power in September 2013.
The clients for the project were Kempsey Shire Council, NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Australian Government Indigenous Coordination Council and the Kempsey Aboriginal Land Council.
Mid Coast Communities, a not-for-profit, non-government incorporated association, who deliver a range of State and federal funded community development projects across the Mid North Coast, were set to deliver the $500,000 project to upgrade the existing 5.2ha recreational parklands, opposite the South Kempsey Community Centre.
However, in early 2015, the Macleay Argus understands that cracks started to appear in the project when it was realised the funding allocated was, in part, designated on land that was not under the control of Mid Coast Communities and no authorisations were in place to allow the project to proceed after the NSW Department of Primary Industry (DPI) and Crown Lands identified significant issues with Native Title and Aboriginal land claims.
“DPI land records indicate the land is Crown Land and is the subject of an undetermined Aboriginal land claim,” a DPI spokesperson told the Argus.
“In considering proposals for Crown Land, DPI Lands consider potential impacts on any native title rights or other interests that might exist.”
The project was to be on two separate Crown Land lots - but one of the lots is the subject of an Aboriginal land claim. The Argus has not been able to confirm whether the land claim was made before or after the announcement of the planned development.
The Argus understands Crown Lands were able to overcome Kempsey Aboriginal Land Council issues through negotiation, but could not resolve the Native Title issue in the limited time available.
As a result, Crown Lands could only give Mid Coast Communities the option of a licence over some of the project site, or to seek an extension of time from the funding body (RDAF), while they sought rights to proceed from the Federal Court.
“The decision to accept the licence and proceed with the project is a matter for the proponent (Mid Coast Communities),” the DPI spokesperson said.
Due to only one licence being granted for only part of the land, Mid Coast Communities board of governance made the decision to terminate the RDAF funding contract.
“Mid Coast Communities deeply regrets that the Our Place project was not able to go ahead due to the timing of approval for use of the land,” Mid Coast Communities CEO Ruth Thompson told the Argus.
“We’d like to extend our gratitude to the wonderful people of South Kempsey for supporting us in our efforts to deliver the project.
“We acknowledge the community’s disappointment as, like us, they saw the project as a very valuable and worthwhile one.”
The Argus understands that there may be a possibility that Kempsey could retain the $500,000 RDAF funding for another project with an announcement expected in the next two weeks.
Kempsey Aboriginal Land Council was invited to comment on the matter however none was available at the time of going to press.
