The Deputy Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Joe Mastrolembo, has today announced the end of the special administration of the Gunggandji PBC Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (Gunggandji).
Established in 2010, the corporation is located in the coastal community of Yarrabah, east of Cairns in far north Queensland. The corporation manages the native title rights and interests of the Gunggandji people. In a December 2011 consent determination, the Federal Court recognised the Gunggandji people’s exclusive and non‑exclusive native title in the Yarrabah township and nearby country in Mission Bay, Cape Grafton, Turtle Bay, Wide Bay, Oombunghi beach and two parcels of land on Fitzroy Island.
The corporation runs a land and sea ranger program from Yarrabah and works with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The Registrar placed Gunggandji into special administration on 29 March 2017. The purpose was to address difficulties with operations and finances, also to sort out disputes between directors and members that had brought the corporation to a standstill.
The special administrators worked with the corporation’s members as well as funding agencies, the North Queensland Land Council and the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, to position the corporation to move forward.
Members were also involved in reviewing the corporation’s rule book to ensure it is an effective and workable model to support governance and decision-making for their group.
One of the most visible outcomes of the special administration will be a new ranger boat and boat shed in Yarrabah that will come online in early 2018. This infrastructure will allow the land and sea rangers to expand their work caring for land and sea.
‘It was a big decision for the directors of the corporation to seek ORIC’s assistance in the form of a special administration and I commend them for that,’ Mr Mastrolembo said. ‘I am confident that Gunggandji is now in a strong position to continue delivering high quality services to its members and the Yarrabah community into the future.’
Background
See the Registrar’s previous media release of 30 March 2017 (MR1617-18).
Media contact
Lisa Hugg
(02) 6146 4738
ORIC MR1718-16
1 December 2017