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The Central Desert Region of Western Australia is large and vast. What can be learned by studying it and having conversations about it is endless.

Here is a short introduction of a few topics that may lead to more specific conversations. Here we are storytelling with maps.




 

Central Desert Native Title Service Area –

Our service area covers more than 830,000km2, or approximately 32% of Western Australia’s land area.

There are more than two dozen Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) located either wholly or partially in the service area.

The "Service Area" or Representative Area also stretches across four (4) Development Commissions (Department of Regional Development) Regions, which influence WA State Government department program interactions with PBCs. These are Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Midwest.

Culture and Country

Aboriginal people of the Central Desert share the central belief system of Tjukurrpa, which includes the stories of creation, the evidence of that creation in the land, and the actions and activities of the dreamtime beings.

Tjukurrpa extends beyond the Western Australia state border, into the Northern Territory and South Australia, to form what is known as the Western Desert Cultural Bloc (WDCB). It is a cultural region in central Australia covering about 600,000 square kilometres.  The term WDCB is used to describe a group of linguistically and culturally similar Aboriginal Australian nations.

Over decades, various maps outlining the WDCB have been created based on anthropological studies. Follow Tjukurrpa and you will find the Western Desert and ‘desert mob’.

The term ‘Western Desert’ can refer to both a cultural bloc and a geographical entity or area.

Geographically, the terrain consists mostly of arid country and includes the Gibson Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, the Great Sandy and Little Sandy Deserts in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. It stretches from the Nullarbor in the south to the Kimberley in the north, and from the Percival Lakes in the west through to the Pintupi lands in the Northern Territory.

The Western Desert is full of life with rare plants and animals found only here in the entire world, with Traditional Owners to care for them as they have done for millennia.

Map reference - Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia, Version 7 (dcceew.gov.au)

 

 

The Western Desert is also incredibly remote. Remoteness Areas (RA) divide Australia into five classes of remoteness which are characterised by a measure of relative geographic access to services.

According to the Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia, all the areas within the Central Desert Service Area are classified as “very remote”, the most remote of the five categories.

The region is home to some of the most remote communities in the World. The remoteness has also meant that portions of country have remained pristine and untouched by development.

Map source - ASGS Edition 3 Remoteness Areas for Australia

Native Title

As at 30 June 2024, there have been 39 determinations of native title in the Central Desert Region.

 

These determinations cover 94% of the Central Desert Service Area. Central Desert works with clients to support them achieving positive determinations in the remaining claim areas, and regaining areas previously extinguished by reserves.

Total CDNTS Service Area - 822,887 km2

Native title exists (exclusive) 626,749km2 (76.2%)

Native title exists (non-exclusive) 149,067km2 (18.1%)

Under claim 9,422km2 (1.14%)

Unclaimed 15,960km2 (1.9%)

Native title does not exist 23,797km2 (2.9%) – mixture of extinguished native title and reserves etc.

Of anywhere in Australia, Central Desert region has the highest percentage of exclusive possession native title. While exclusive possession provides the ability for native title holders to have a say as to who can access their country, it does not prevent others seeking access or lodging licenses over country. This keeps PBCs and native title holders extremely busy in responding to requests, often with Central Desert support.

Nearly one third of the Central Desert representative area is covered by licenses, claims and leases registered with the Department of Mines, comprising:

  • Exploration licenses - 215,732km2 (26%)
  • General Purpose Lease - 27km2 (0.0003%)
  • Misc. Licence – 14,765km2 (1.8%)
  • Mining Lease – 3,638km2 (0.4%)
  • Mineral Claim – 185km2 (0.02%)
  • Prospecting Licence – 140km2 (0.01%)
  • Retention Licence – 158km2 (0.02%)
  • Temporary Reserve – 453km2 (0.05%)

25.27% of the exclusive possession native title area is covered by licenses, claims and leases registered with the Department of Mines, comprising:

  • Exploration licenses – 150,441km2 (24%)
  • General Purpose Lease – 0.6km2 (0.00009%)
  • Misc. Licence –6789km2 (1%(
  • Mining Lease – 602km2 (1%)
  • Mineral Claim – 4km2 (0.0006%)
  • Prospecting Licence – 35km2 (0.005%)
  • Retention Licence – 45km2 (0.006%)
  • Temporary Reserve – 453km2 (0.07%)

While these percentages may not seem to be as large as other regions, when placed in the context of operational and financial resourcing limitations, remoteness of the area and other factors, it is a challenging environment to achieve sustainable economic development.

For more information on individual native title determinations, and the PBCs to contact for these, visit our interactive map here.