Naree Budjong Djara Management Plan

The Naree Budjong Djara Management Plan (PDF, 7.4MB) sets out the Joint Management of designated protected areas as Indigenous Joint Management Areas (IJMAs), managed in accordance with an Indigenous Management Agreement (IMA) and other agreements between the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) and the State of Queensland.

Nunagal, Goenbal and Ngugi People have always protected our Quandamookadjara (Quandamooka Country) and managed the health of the ecosystems to allow all species to flourish. QYAC and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service aim to provide best practice joint management of Naree Budjong Djara, to ensure lands and culture stay healthy for our children and for the benefit of all the people of Queensland.

A message from the Joint Management Coordinator, Darren Burns

Archaeological evidence suggests Quandamooka people have been caring for their country for more than 20,000 years. Minjerribah and North Stradbroke Island and parts of the mainland which is now known as Cleveland and Brisbane were settled very early in Queensland’s colonial history.

Quandamooka people have enjoyed continuous occupation of their traditional lands despite various colonial intrusions. These intrusions took the form of various industries which included fishing, oystering, whaling and quarantine stations, a leper colony, a benevolent asylum and, more recently, more than 60 years of extraction of minerals and huge influxes of tourists.

At no time prior to the Native Title Determination Application process in the 1990s, were Quandamooka people ever consulted about any of the industries or the destruction of their traditional lands and lifestyle.

Quandamooka people’s Native Title rights were honoured and upheld by the Federal Court on 4 July 2011. At this time, part of the Native Title settlement included the Naree Budjong Djara joint managed National Park.

Naree Budjong Djara has taken the Quandamooka people on an interesting journey alongside people employed with the Queensland Government. Over nearly 10 years this journey has been interesting, as well as both heartbreaking and rewarding. We are now entering into a new phase working together with lots of experience and good will behind us. As Quandamooka people we welcome the challenge and are totally committed to caring for our country as we have done for more than 20,000 years.