Permits
Permit
Although the Ngaanyatjarra people own no freehold land, the current leases held by the Ngaanyatjarra Land Council, allows some control by Ngaanyatjarra people over activities on the several Aboriginal Reserve leases that have been granted to them by the Western Australian Government. Entry to these Ngaanyatjarra Lands can only be made by non-Aboriginal people who have applied for, and been issued with an entry permit. While this requirement does not apply to approved employees of Ngaanyatjarra Council, when travelling by road within the Northern Territory it is still necessary to obtain a transit permit from the Central Land council. These are also available on an annual basis.
The Permit System
The permit system requires people wishing to enter the Lands to obtain a permit from the Ngaanyatjarra Council. This applies to tourists transiting the Lands on the major route from Uluru or Kalgoorlie, or Wiluna, via Giles and Warburton, to people wishing to carry out activities ranging from gold prospecting to collecting insects, and to mining companies wishing to explore on Aboriginal Lands.
People who have authority to enter the Lands without Permits include members of the Police Force, Public Health Officials, officers of Government Authorities, if and so long as they enter and remain for the purpose of the lawful exercise and performance of the functions and duties pertaining to their Office. Any person who breaks the By-Laws is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
Issuing of Permits
The Ngaanyatjarra Council usually issues transit permits with little delay from the Alice Springs office, or from the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) in Perth. Applications for Entry Permits to Ngaanyatjarra Lands are made on a “Reserve Entry Permit Application” form. DIA also offer an option of applying for a permit on-line through their website, however any permit request that is for more than the normal 3 day transit permit will still be sent to Ngaanyatjarra Council for full approval. Permit application forms are available from the Community Office or Ngaanyatjarra Council office in Alice Springs or from our downloads page.
Requests from the public for a permit to visits communities, art centres or similar must be sent out to the communities involved for individual approval from the community members, Ngaanyatjarra Council does have the authority to issue these permits, however as a matter of courtesy prefers that the community members sign off on the approval in the first instance. Occasionally there are requests for permits to enter the Lands that are outside of the normal criteria, eg someone wanting to ride a bicycle across the Lands, or a motorbike club with a large amount of people involved, any requests that are out of the ordinary are presented at the monthly Ngaanyatjarra Council meetings for consideration.
For more information contact Ngaanyatjarra Council:
Post Address: PO Box 644, Alice Springs NT 0872
Physical Address: 58 Head St, Alice Springs NT
Tel: 08 8950 1711