Kabi Kabi people awarded native title over a 356,345-hectare area in Queensland – including a major Australian tourist hotspot

An Indigenous group has been awarded native title over a huge area of land, including Noosa and other popular tourist spots in Queensland.

The Federal Court on Monday formally recognised the Kabi Kabi people as native title holders over the 356,345-hectare estate that includes Noosa, Bribie Island, Gympie, Maroochydore, Caloundra and Mudjimba Island.

The non-exclusive title rights mean the Kabi Kabi people have the right to hunt and camp in the area, but not to control access or the use of an area.

Non-Indigenous people still have a right to use the land under the non-exclusive native title, and those who own properties or homes in the areas will not be affected.

Justice Berna Collier told the court the group ‘have and always have had native title rights and interests in this country’.

The non-exclusive title rights mean the Kabi Kabi people have the right to hunt and camp in the area, but not to control access or the use of an area. They have been awarded native land title over Part A in the above map

‘I congratulate everyone involved for reaching agreement in this matter, but in particular the Kabi Kabi people whose native title rights and interests have today received deserved recognition.’ 

The legal claim was lodged back in 2013.

Monday’s decision only applies to one section of the Kabi Kabi people’s claim. Two other sections in the claim for additional land are yet to be determined. 

The native land title rights recognises the Indigenous group’s rights to ‘access, be present on, move about on and travel over the area’.

Kabi Kabi traditional owner Brian Warner said it was a bittersweet moment as some elders had died before the land titles were given.

‘Many of the people have been here from very start but we have lost a lot of elders along the way,’ he said.

‘So it’s very emotional – we’re mourning the ones we lost but celebrating our future and our people.’