Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:reg:2015:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2015 (pt 7/16)
Character Range: 507353–510211

Land Rights Act for the purpose of being managed as a Commonwealth reserve. Land in the park that is not Aboriginal land is vested in the Director.
The lease agreements reserve the right of Aboriginals to enter and use the leased land in accordance with Aboriginal tradition and outline the Director's obligations in regard to the management of Aboriginal land declared under the Land Rights Act.
The lease agreement with the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust includes special provisions about managing and protecting sacred sites, particularly the Sickness Country, rehabilitation of old mine workings in the Gunlom Land Trust area, and control of Aboriginal cultural material.
Section 367(1)(d) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) requires that the plan must be consistent with the lease agreements.
The full provisions of the leases at the time of preparation of this plan are included as Appendix I: Provisions of leases.
Establishment of the park

The park was proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 (NPWC Act) progressively between 1979 and 1991. Stage One of the park was initially established in 1979, Stage Two in 1984, and Stage Three between 1987 and 1991. The NPWC Act was replaced by the EPBC Act in July 2000. The park continues as a Commonwealth reserve under the EPBC Act pursuant to the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, which deems the park to have been declared for the following purposes:
    * the preservation of the area in its natural condition

    * the encouragement and regulation of the appropriate use, appreciation and enjoyment of the area by the public.

Amendments to the boundaries of the park were made under s.350(1) of the EPBC Act in 2007 and 2013 to incorporate a number of ex-mining leases and Koongarra into the park.
The EPBC Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (EPBC Regulations) under the Act provide the legal basis and framework for management of the park reserves. Other laws referred to in this appendix may also be relevant to activities in the park. A number of international agreements relevant to management of the park are also described.

Objectives of the EPBC Act

The objectives of the EPBC Act as set out in Part 1 of the Act are:
   (a)      to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are matters of national environmental significance; and
   (b)      to promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources; and
   (c)       to promote the conservation of biodiversity; and
   (ca) to provide for the protection and conservation of heritage; and
   (d)      to promote a co-operative approach to the protection and management of