Access & Permits – Thamarrurr Development Corporation

Aboriginal Land and Permits

The Thamarrurr Region is part of the Daly River Port Keats Aboriginal Land Trust, which is owned by the Traditional Owners of the Region through the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976. It is privately owned Aboriginal land, not Crown land or public land. A permit is therefore required to enter this land, and the duration and scope of any visit is dependent upon the decision of Traditional Owners who have control over access to their Country. The permit system is administered through Northern Land Council, and is designed to help protect the privacy of Aboriginal communities, preserve Aboriginal culture, safeguard the natural environment and promote visitor safety.

If you wish to visit the Thamarrurr Region for any purpose, including entering Aboriginal land or waters (including access to tidal waters), and travel by road through Aboriginal land (this does not apply to public roads), you will need to apply to Northern Land Council for a permit. If you wish to pursue a commercial activity in the Region, you will need to apply for a s19 land use agreement. For more information on permits and s19 agreements, please contact the NLC office in Darwin, or apply for a permit online: http://www.nlc.org.au/articles/cat/work-transit-tourist-permits/

Some areas of land and tidal zones are sacred with significant cultural meanings. Traditional Owners ask people to avoid these areas. Sacred sites in the Northern Territory are protected by the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act. Under this Act it is an offence to enter a sacred site without approval. Permission to access sites can only be obtained from Traditional Owners, through processes outlined by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority: http://www.aapant.org.au/application-forms

The land and waters of the Thamarrurr Region have significant natural, cultural, spiritual, social and economic values to the Traditional Owners. We ask that all visitors recognize these values and respect this Country and the people. Please apply for a NLC permit to visit the Region and ask for permission from Traditional Owners to visit their clan estates.

Access to the Region

The communities of Wadeye, Palumpa and Peppimenarti (and surrounding Region) are accessible by road from about April to December. They are accessed along the Daly River-Port Keats Road, which is unsealed from the Daly River Crossing. Travel time from Darwin by road is about 5 ½ hours to Wadeye, 5 hours to Palumpa and 4 hours to Peppimenarti, in the dry season. During the wet season, from about December to April, the road is closed due to flooding in parts.

Murin Travel and Freight Service provide a daily air service from Darwin to Wadeye and return, using turbo-prop, 19 seat aircraft. From Monday to Friday there are two flights each way every day. During the weekend, there is only one flight each way. The service runs all year round and the flight takes about 45 minutes. Murin also provides a weekly freight barge service from Darwin to Wadeye during the wet season, and a road freight service during the dry season.

The communities of Peppimenarti and Palumpa are also accessible by air service, with the mail plane on Tuesdays and Fridays, and charter flights available. They are also able to access the weekly Murin freight service.