The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) met for its 468th meeting in March

Over three days, Councillors participated in a strategic workshop and discussed the critical challenges and opportunities faced by NSWALC, LALCs and communities toward achieving the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan 2022-26.

Council reviewed the key themes identified as part of NSWALC’s ongoing Strategic Planning process including further exploring four key areas of focus for the new plan:

• Land Activation: Deliver sustainable revenue, jobs and housing for community;
• Community Outcomes: Foster community partnerships, community planning initiatives and community priorities;
• Foundations: Deliver strong governance and operational foundations to drive positive community outcomes;
• Advocacy: Advocate for Land Rights with respect to acquisition and activation and community outcomes, as well as CAPO and Closing the Gap.

Over the coming months NSWALC will continue to work through these key themes to create a draft 2026-2030 Strategic Plan to confirm organisational priorities for the next four years.

Meeting with the NSW Treaty Commissioners

Council met with NSW Treaty Commissioners Naomi Moran, Aden Ridgeway and Dr. Todd Fernando to discuss Treaty ahead of the commencement of the NSW Treaty process later in 2025. 

Council emphasised NSWALC’s recommendations on Treaty principles and the importance of an inclusive pathway to Treaty including ensuring that the treaty process is responsive to the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples, protects and strengthens existing self-determination structures, such as LALCs, and ensures that the process protects existing gains by Aboriginal peoples – such as Land Rights in NSW.

Statutory Investment Fund Update

Council was updated on the performance of the Statutory Investment Fund, which in the 2024/25 Financial Year to date (as of 28 February 2025), has returned $41.2 million. 

According to NSWALC this is$11.89 million over budget.

NSWALC Sponsorship Program

Council discussed sponsorship support for the NSW Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association Inc (ACHAA) 2025 Regional Conference.  

The official opening of the conference will be hosted at the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre 20-21 May 2025. Council approved sponsorship of $30,000 to support the ACHAA 2025 Regional Conference.

NSWALC Community Fund Grants

Council approved $600,000 in funding across four LALCs under the NSWALC Community Fund Grant Program for the following programs that were determined to be best aligned with the NSWALC Strategic Plan 2022-2026:

• Gilgandra LALC Project: The Pines – Clean-up & security
• Casino-Boolangle LALC Project: To maintain cultural lands and improve operational capacity
• Cowra LALC Project: Erambie Land Management Plan – Part 3
• Walhallow LALC Project: Walhallow Cultural Tourism Capacity Building.

Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council Appointments

Council nominated Cr Danny Chapman as NSWALC’s primary representative to the Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council (AFAC). 

Cr Diane Randall was nominated as an alternate representative.