Griffith City Council agreed to join the Federal Court case at a meeting this week. Photo: Griffith City Council.
Griffith Council is joining a major native title case covering a huge chunk of southern NSW, including Wagga and much of the Riverina.
At a meeting this week, councillors supported a motion from Mayor Doug Curran to join Federal Court proceedings brought by the Southern West Yiradyuri/Wiradyuri/Wiradjuri People.
The claimants say they are descendants of Aboriginal people who maintained an ongoing traditional connection to the Riverina and are asking the Federal Court to legally recognise native title rights arising from that connection.
The claim stretches across a vast area of southern and western NSW, broadly running from around the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers through the Riverina and taking in areas around Griffith, Narrandera, Hay and Wagga Wagga, before extending south-east towards Cootamundra, Deniliquin, Corowa and Albury.
Private homes and other valid freehold properties within these boundaries are not part of the claim, which was filed in October 2025 and formally registered on 30 April 2026.
Registration allows the claim to proceed but does not mean native title has been proven.
Wagga Wagga Council told councillors in May the claim was registered over a large part of the local government area.
In some circumstances, the council will have to refer proposed works on Crown land to the native title claimants for comment before going ahead.
Depending on the response, the proposed works could be affected.
The native title claim comes just months after a separate Aboriginal land rights battle in Leeton, where a court ordered a gravel carpark next to the courthouse to be transferred to the Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council. The NSW Land and Environment Court found the NSW Government had wrongly rejected the claim, ruling the site was still “claimable Crown land” despite being used as a carpark. That case was brought under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 – a different legal process from the native title claim now before the Federal Court.
Griffith Council’s concern regarding the current Federal Court case is over what might happen to land and infrastructure it owns or manages.
“The claim covers a significant area of southern and western New South Wales, including land within the Griffith local government area,” a council paper states.
“A number of councils across the Riverina and Murray regions are also affected by the claim. Following discussions coordinated through the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO), the affected councils have agreed to establish a joint position and participate collectively in the matter.”
A map of the claim area. Photo: Southern West Yiradyuri Clans website.
Council says its interests potentially include council-owned land, Crown land it manages, roads and infrastructure such as water, sewerage and drainage, as well as waste facilities, community buildings, sporting facilities and cemeteries.
Council says joining the case does not mean it is opposing native title.
Instead, it wants to make sure it can provide evidence, protect its existing interests and have a say if council land or infrastructure is affected.
“We aren’t aware of any financial implications at this stage. If there’s any material developments they’ll be reported back to council. It’s important at this stage that we defend this native title claim, we’re not the only council so it’s a good opportunity to join with others,” Mayor Curran said at the meeting.
Cr O’Grady also supported getting involved.
“Whilst these matters are always delicate, I recall reading that council will be joining the RAMJO organisation so that costs aren’t blown out, although these matters can take a long time,” he said.
Griffith Council’s legal advice says native title cases in NSW can run for five to 15 years, with parties generally paying their own legal costs.
The Federal Court will ultimately determine whether native title exists in the relevant areas, what rights may exist and how those rights interact with existing interests.
