Current LeasesWurrumiyanga (Nguiu)The Executive Director Township Leasing entered into the first Whole of Township Lease on behalf of the Commonwealth over the Township of Nguiu on Bathurst Island on 30 August 2007. In 2010 the Township was officially recognised by the local Tiwi name "Wurrumiyanga" for the area where the community is built, meaning "the place where the cycads grow". The Township Lease is constituted by a head lease agreed between the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust, the Tiwi Land Council and the Executive Director Township Leasing. The term of this head lease is 99 years. The community of Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) is located on the south-east corner of Bathurst Island which is one of the Tiwi Islands, 70 kilometres north of Darwin and has a population of approximately 1500 permanent residents. The community is made up of residential areas, a commercial centre and government facilities including a police station, health centre, swimming pool and airfield. View Wurrumiyanga in Google Maps Milikapiti and Wurankuwu (Ranku) Township LeaseThe communities of Milikapiti and Ranku on the Tiwi Islands signed a 99 year Whole of Township Lease with the Executive Director of Township Leasing on 22 November 2011. This is the second Township lease for the Tiwi Islands and complements the existing lease at Wurrumiyanga. The Milikapiti and Ranku Township Lease cover the existing towns’ footprints and include area to accommodate new development in the communities. The two communities are located on separate islands. The Traditional Owners agreed to a single Township Lease because of the strong historical and Traditional Owners affiliations across the two communities. However under the Township Lease each community has established its own local Consultative Forum groups. Milikapiti community has a population of approximately 560 and is located on the Melville Island. It is Australia’s second largest island after Tasmania and one of two main land masses which make up the Tiwi Islands. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) built the airfield as a forward fighter aerodrome during World War II as part of the proposed strategic amphibious operations in the eastern Dutch East Indies. This airport is now known as Snake Bay. Wurankuwu is about 90 km by air (25 mins) from Darwin and located on the Western side of Bathurst Island. The Ranku airstrip is also the site of a former World War II RAAF strip. Currently has a population of about 60-80 people.
Groote Eylandt and Bickerton IslandIn December 2008, the Anindliyakwa Land Trust, representing the Traditional Owners of Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island entered into a Whole of Township Lease with the Executive Director Township Leasing, on behalf of the Commonwealth for the communities of Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra. The term of the head lease is for an initial term of 40 years with an option exercisable by the Executive Director for a further 40 years. The Groote Eylandt archipelago is situated on the western side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, approximately 600 kilometres south-east of Darwin. Groote Eylandt is the largest island in the Gulf, with an area of 2687 square kilometres. The Traditional Owners are Warnindilyakwa, but are referred to by their language name Anindilyakwa. View Groote Eylandt in Google Maps Alice Springs Town CampsThe Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 2008 provided the Executive Director Township Leasing with additional functions. The amendment to the Act now enables the Executive Director to hold other types of leases or subleases over land held primarily for the benefit of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. This provides Aboriginal people with a further option in considering whether to grant leases over their land. Sub-section 20CA of the of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Township Leasing) Act 2007 allows for the Executive Director to hold leases and subleases of community living areas, town camps and prescribed land on behalf of the Commonwealth. In December 2009 the Executive Director signed sublease agreements over seventeen Alice Springs Town Camps on behalf of the Commonwealth. Other parties to the sublease include the relevant Alice Springs Housing Association, the Northern Territory Government and the Chief Executive Officer of Northern Territory Housing. The underlying tenure arrangements of the Alice Springs Town Camps are perpetual Leases held by Aboriginal Housing Associations. The Alice Springs Town Camp subleases are for a term of 40 year terms.
Housing Precinct LeasesIt is Commonwealth Government policy that all major investment in assets located on Aboriginal land be secured by long-term leases. In the case of the significant current investment in housing on land held under the Act, Housing Precinct Leases under Section 19 of the Act are required. A Housing Precinct Lease over community housing ensures that Government has the necessary level of access to and control over land so that new houses can be built and existing houses can be maintained. It also enables fairer property and tenancy management arrangements to be put in place. Unlike a Whole of Township Lease, a Housing Precinct Lease only covers community housing and does not allow commercial subleasing arrangements.
On 29 June 2011, the Executive Director Township Leasing entered into Housing Precinct Leases over the all of the current community housing areas of the Townships of Lajamanu & Hermannsburg. The term of the head lease is 40 years. The Executive Director has subsequently entered into a sublease with the Chief Executive (Housing) on behalf of the Northern Territory Government to manage and maintain the public housing in these communities.
LajamanuLajamanu is located approximately 560 kilometres south west of Katherine, on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert and the eastern side of Hooker Creek. Access is via the sealed Buntine Highway and then via 100 kilometres of unsealed road. Road access can also be made from Alice Springs on unsealed road. By road the travel time is 6 hours drive from Katherine. Population is estimated at around 700 people.
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)Hermannsburg is located 130 kilometres west of Alice Springs by road and it takes 1.5 hours to drive there. The 130 kilometres access road to the community from Alice Springs is sealed the entire distance. It was established as an Aboriginal mission in 1877 by Luthern missionaries. It was named after Hermannsburg in Germany. Population is estimated at around 600 people.
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