Background

The 2009 amendments to the  Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983  (ALRA) introduced the Community Development Levy mechanism to evenly spread the wealth from Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) with more valuable land holdings to those land councils with less valuable land and development opportunities.

The mechanism levies certain LALC land dealings and, with matching contributions fromthe NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), generates funds in the NSWALC Community Fund. Monies from the NSWALC Community Fund are made available on the basis of need so as to increase resources and assets available for less advantaged LALCs. Community Fund GrantsThe Council of NSWALC has developed the   NSWALC Community Fund Policy, which sets out what funding from the NSWALC Community Fund can be used for, which LALCs are eligible for such funding, and on what basis funding applications will be assessed

Eligible LALCs can apply for grants of up to $50,000 (GST exclusive) for the following purposes:

  • Grants to assist with the acquisition of land, where all other avenues for funding have been exhausted; and
  • Grants to undertake land management activities, in relation to land in which the LALC has a legal interest.

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2017 Funding Round

Preparations are currently being made for the opening of the next grant round. It is anticipated that applications will be accepted over a two month period from mid-February to mid-April 2017.

A formal announcement will be made when the time comes. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact the NSWALC Policy and Programs Unit on 02 9689 4444 or email policy@alc.org.au.

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Past Funding Rounds

The 21 projects awarded funding in the 2016 grant round were:

  • Armidale LALC: Ancillary work for the Mt Yarrowyck Nature Reserve Schedule 14 negotiations
  • Bathurst LALC: Bathurst LALC office infrastructure upgrade
  • Birrigan Gargle LALC: Beautification and restoration of Pippi Beach community
  • Brungle Tumut LALC: Purchase equipment for land management
  • Collarenebri LALC: Construction of a toilet facility at the Collarenebri Aboriginal Burial Ground for local families and visitors
  • Coonabarabran LALC: Boundary fencing at Burra Bee Dee Mission and Happy Valley Fringe Camp
  • Cummeragunja LALC: Cummeragunja Community Hall
  • Dorrigo LALC: Restoration of North Dorrigo Hall and land maintenance
  • Griffith LALC: Old Griffith Police Station upgrade project
  • Hay LALC: Hay LALC community space upgrade
  • Menindee LALC: Menindee LALC office infrastructure upgrade
  • Moree LALC: Preserving Aboriginal cultural heritage and environmental values through land management
  • Murrin Bridge LALC: Barooga Karrai kickstart
  • Ngulingah LALC: Cubbawee infrastructure project
  • Tibooburra LALC: Tibooburra LALC Museum and Keeping Place expansion
  • Trangie LALC: Trangie LALC vacant land management project
  • Warren Macquarie LALC: Linking the Beemunnel Aboriginal Reserve, Tiger Bay Wetlands and the Window on the Wetlands Centre
  • West Wyalong LALC: Aboriginal Artefacts Museum
  • Wilcannia LALC: Wilcannia LALC Community Centre
  • Yaegl LALC: Ulugundahi Island restoration project
  • Young LALC: Young LALC refurbishment and renovations

The 13 projects awarded funding in the 2015 grant round were:

  • Amaroo LALC: Land management at Summervale Reserve
  • Anaiwan LALC: Reconnect to country: Old Bottom
  • Baradine LALC: Calooma Station Restoration Project
  • Bega LALC: Managing our lands: Access control
  • Biraban LALC: Biraban Aboriginal-owned lands access diversion project
  • Broken Hill LALC: BHLALC office infrastructure upgrade
  • Dareton LALC: Namatjira Reserve land management program
  • Jubullum LALC: Jubullum Village roads project
  • Orange LALC: Balandha - Shadforth community access project
  • Trangie LALC: Trangie cultural centre for education, history and heritage
  • Wagonga LALC: Paradise Point: Sharing our culture and heritage, Stage 2
  • Weilwan LALC: Cultural gathering space and Gulargambone Old Reserve land management
  • Wellington LALC:  Purchase of Nanima Primary School to establish 'Nanima Education and Wellbeing Centre' and remove asbestos