The claim, lodged by the Southern West Yiradyuri People has entered into its formal three-month public notification period, presenting challenges for Council as they navigate the process.
The claim successfully satisfied the National Native Title Tribunal Registration Test in April.
The claim primarily applies to unallocated Crown land, state forests, national parks, public reserves, and water bodies where native title has not been extinguished.
Under Australian law, native title cannot be claimed over private freehold land or residential leases; valid freehold titles extinguish native title rights.
Federation Council delegated general manager Adrian Butler at the September ordinary meeting to register the council as a respondent to the application within the public notification window, which expires in November.
Once the three-month notification window closes, the Federal Court will convene a case management hearing to establish a timetable for the claim.
The claim is supported by the Southern West Yiradyuri Clans Land, Water and Sky Country Aboriginal Corporation.
A spokesperson for the group said, at this stage, they are not in a position to engage with media.
“We anticipate being able to speak further later in the year, once our community consultations have concluded,” the spokesperson said.
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