The Tribunal has a number of geospatial and mapping specialists who work with agreement-making teams to resolve native title issues.

Mapping and spatial information plays an important role in native title. Areas of applications, indigenous land use agreements and determinations of native title need to be described geographically and mapped similar to other interests in land and/or water. This allows people to gain an understanding of where these matters are in relation to other things such as towns, roads, farms, mining tenements, and shires.

Maps are also used together with other information, to notify interested parties about native title matters allowing them to become involved in the process. The information available here may be useful to people who: 

• are interested in an overview of the status of native title on a regional, state or national basis
• require access to spatial data for integration with computer-based mapping systems
• require advice as to how to create a map and associated technical description for submission in a native title application or indigenous land use agreement

How we can help you

We deliver quality online access to native title spatial information and data to stakeholders and client groups to support their engagement in the native title process.

Geospatial can also provide: 

• compliance advice on maps and descriptions for registration testing and ILUA registration
• overlap and spatial relationship information and advice
• assistance in the preparation of maps and descriptions
• products for mediation purposes, for example maps, visualisation tools, integrated spatial and non-spatial information
• customised map products
• geospatial statistics 
• spatial searches of the Tribunal’s registers
• training in spatial concepts, terminology and use of Native TitleVision (NTV), our online visualisation, mapping and query tool (login required).
  

Our geospatial services team

Our experienced, specialist team members are located in the Brisbane, Cairns and Melbourne offices, and the Principal and Western Australia Registries. We are custodians of, and maintain spatial records associated with, claimant applications, ILUAs, determinations, registered native title body corporates and future act matters. This information is included in the Tribunal’s registers.

We also utilise other spatial reference information such as Local Government areas, RATSIB areas, cadastre, land, mining and petroleum tenure, and maritime boundaries.