Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:front:0:p103
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 295448–298165

plan there have been no new entrants and ERA maintains a significant proportion of the town's essential services infrastructure, including the supply of electricity. It also maintains and provides access to the Jabiru airport within the Ranger project area, and has constructed a number of community facilities in Jabiru.

At the time of preparing this plan ERA's authority to conduct the Ranger mine under the Atomic Energy Act 1953 requires mining operations to cease in 2021 and the site to be rehabilitated by 2026.

Jabiru is located within an area leased by the Director of National Parks to the Jabiru Town Development Authority (JTDA) in 1981. The majority of subleases granted by the JTDA in the town are held by ERA and government. Others are held by local businesses and organisations (including bodies owned by and representing the Mirarr traditional owners and other Bininj). The town lease and therefore all subleases will expire on 30 June 2021.

Under the town lease the Director may grant licences over land outside the lease area for roads and related works, the discharge of water, sewerage and water supply facilities, and electricity and telecommunications facilities reasonably needed for use in connection with the town. Some essential services infrastructure, such as power and water, is established in these areas. The Director may also grant licences for recreational use of areas by residents of the town. The Jabiru Gun Club is situated on land outside the lease and parts of the Jabiru Golf Course extend beyond the lease, although licences have not been formally granted.

The Mirarr people are acknowledged as the traditional Aboriginal owners of the Jabiru land and surrounding areas under Aboriginal tradition, and this was recognised by the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry. However, in line with the recommendations of the inquiry the town lease area was excluded from the land scheduled and granted as Aboriginal land under Land Rights Act in 1978. As town land the area could not subsequently be claimed under that Act. In 1997 the Mirarr applied for a determination of native title under the Native Title Act 1993 over the Jabiru lease area and two other adjoining areas of the park excluded from the grant, and are the registered native title claimants.

In 2009 an agreement was reached to settle the native title claim. Under the settlement the claim areas would be granted as Aboriginal land under the Land Rights Act and leased by the relevant Aboriginal Land Trust to a suitable lessee for the purposes of continued use as a town, and a new town plan would be made. At the time of preparing this plan the two claim areas adjoining the town lease area have been granted