Tribune’s note

Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt announced the Australian Government and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council have signed a variation to the head lease for Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay — the most significant change to the park's governance arrangements since the original 2003 lease [TA-260602-climat-a83da34794d9]. The variation doubles the council's share of park revenue from 25 percent to 50 percent, aligns annual rents with current market values, and establishes a formal pathway for the council to assume sole management of Booderee by 31 May 2028.

The lease change was approved under both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Aboriginal Land and Waters (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986, providing the statutory framework for the transition. Watt framed the agreement as delivering stronger involvement for Traditional Owners and honouring the government's commitment to the partnership.

The portfolio is positioning the Booderee model — combining increased revenue sharing with a timed transfer to sole Indigenous management — as a template for future co-management arrangements across the national parks estate.

Primary records (1)

The official records this note draws on — the raw primary documents themselves, as published.

MediaJoint media release: Lease variation strengthens Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council's role in national park managementMurray WattTuesday 2 June 2026