Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council Case Study

Darkinjung Delivery Framework

Darkinjung is one of 120 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) in NSW established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (ALR) Act, 1983 (NSW). It is the largest non-Government landholder on the Central Coast.

In February 2019, the NSW Government released the Darkinjung Delivery Framework, a set of pioneering planning measures to assist Darkinjung better utilise their land.

The Framework is the NSW Government’s response to the fact that all Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) face a number of issues securing suitable uses for their land – land successfully claimed under the Aboriginal Land Rights (ALR) Act, 1983 (NSW).

The Framework also implements Direction 6 of the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 (Regional Plan) “to strengthen the economic self-determination of Aboriginal communities”. The Regional Plan recognises that encouraging Aboriginal people to gain economic benefit from their land will support broader regional development and environmental and social outcomes.

As the largest non-Government landholder on the Central Coast, Darkinjung has been an ideal test case for the planning reforms.

Planning reforms package

The reform package included:

• The Interim Darkinjung Development Delivery Plan (DDP) is a strategic plan for identified Darkinjung priority sites for development. It is the first interim DDP that will be given effect under the Ministerial Direction (Development of Aboriginal Land Council land).
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established between the department and Darkinjung in February 2019. The MOU is an agreement between the NSW Government and Darkinjung that sets out how the organisations will work together to create the pipeline of Darkinjung development projects.
• A Darkinjung Delivery Framework Consultation Paper outlining the inter-related measures - including an explanation of intended effect of the SEPP - received overwhelming support when exhibited from 16 November to 14 December 2018.

View the Interim Plan

For more information

Phone:

• Information Centre: 1300 305 695
• Central Coast regional office: (02) 4348 5000
• Translating & Interpreting Service: 131 450
• Ask for an interpreter in your language by calling 1300 305 695.

Local call cost from fixed phones. Calls from mobiles at applicable rates.

Email: centralcoast@planning.nsw.gov.au

Address:

Level 3, 107 Mann Street, Gosford NSW 2250
PO Box 1148, Gosford NSW 2250