Native title deal struck in northern NSW
(Credit: The Age)

A massive native title deal has been struck in northern NSW giving the Githabul people joint control of 19 national parks and state forests.

The NSW government has agreed to hand over joint control of part of the Githabul nation, which covers more than 6000 sq km and straddles the NSW and Queensland border near Mt Lindesay, The Australian newspaper reports.

The claim forms part of the biggest native title settlement struck on the eastern seaboard in terms of area and includes many picturesque NSW parks and the World-Heritage listed Border Ranges and Toonumbar national parks.

Githabul elders are optimistic about the deal that includes jobs and business opportunities and aims to help communities end their dependence on welfare.

"This is reconciliation in a practical sense: we have formed a business with the state government," Githabul claimant Trevor Close said.

The deal follows the 1992 Mabo decision that recognised the existence of native title, the 1996 Wik decision that said native title could co-exist with pastoral leases, and September's Noongar ruling, being appealed, that recognised native title rights over metropolitan Perth.

NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus said the agreement "acknowledges Aboriginal people as traditional owners and gives them a greater say in how national parks are managed and conserved".

The Queensland government has refused to negotiate over the claim for 10 years and the Queensland areas will be dropped from the original claim and pursued separately.

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