Sand Dune Adventures will continue to stir up tourism in Anna Bay for years to come after the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council successfully won its land claim this week.
The land that welcomes thousands of holidaymakers each year will now afford its owners unrestricted access to both northern and southern aspects of the 10.6 hectares of sand.
Already the home of an Aboriginal guided tourism experience that combines quad bike riding with culture and heritage learning, the new acquisition means the business can expand across what is the largest coastal sand dunes in the southern hemisphere.
Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Andrew Smith admits the official hand-over from Crown Lands opens opportunities for both cultural and economic benefits.
“The popularity of the northern dunes for tourism is no secret and having our own direct access to our own resource for tourism provides us with excellent opportunities to discover and unpack,” he said.
“The area is culturally significant physically and spiritually in more ways people can appreciate, so this is an excellent outcome where we can protect the area more efficiently, while allowing access that promotes cultural health and well-being.
“Of course, we will negotiate and work with Port Stephens Council and the Worimi Conservation Lands Board to create partnerships that allow for best regenerative use of the land to benefit all key stakeholders, including the land council.”
The land is being returned to the Aboriginal land council as freehold land, in keeping with Crown Lands policy and commitment.
The sand dunes of Anna Bay form part of the Worimi Conservation Lands, in which dunes can be seen towering as much as 30 metres above sea level.
The area is recognised as the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
The constantly shifting sands are forever covering and uncovering ancient Aboriginal cultural sites, including middens, which contain shell deposits and tool-making artefacts, campsites and burial sites.
For more stories like this:
- Aboriginal Land Council welcomes land in Lake Mac
- Aboriginal Culture Centre possible for Cessnock
- Rocky Knob of cultural significance
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