The body considers the improvement and management of land holdings, businesses and organisations across LALCs in NSW. The group works in partnership with Local Land Services (LLS).

 They meet regularly to exchange ideas, support each other and create pathways to promote better understanding of Aboriginal cultural awareness with their communities.

Acting chief executive officer of the Ashford LALC Pene Riggs had some exciting news to share with the ARAG.

“We’ve got almost $200,000 worth of funding to start our save the Severn Project now,” she said.

The project is a river rehabilitation and restoration and feral animal control initiative from the Pindari Dam wall to the Severn River junction with the Macintyre.

“We’ll hire one supervisor and four trainees and they will do the work on country,” Pene said.

Amaroo LALC CEO Mark Davies and member Corey Powell were up from Walcha to present the business plan for the development of Ingelbeah Mission.

They are planning to create an Aboriginal educational centre on the land.

Kempsey LALC chairman Grahame Quinlan attended with deputy chair Fred Kelly. Among other things, Grahame and Fred hope to build engagement with the high population of Kempsey Aboriginal youth. 

They also hope to train Aboriginal people to step into natural resource management trainees for openings within local National Parks and their own LALC properties. “There’s a huge potential for that,” Fred said.

Northern Tablelands LLS senior strategic land services officer for Aboriginal communities Harry White chairs the group. He is assisted by Traditional Ecological Knowledge Officer Ivan Lackay and ARAG LLS team leader Ross Fuller.

Ross said the LLS relationship is one of equal partnership. LLS offer the group their expertise, and ARAG members offer their knowledge.

“It’s definitely a very two-way street. But the ARAG helps provide guidance for the LLS how to engage most effectively with the Aboriginal community and the LALCs,” Ross said.