{"id":368987,"date":"2026-02-05T17:22:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T07:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=368987"},"modified":"2026-02-05T17:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T07:29:11","slug":"council-trad-owners-look-to-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/02\/05\/council-trad-owners-look-to-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Council, Trad Owners Look To Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Mayor Bruce Simpson, centre, and Wakka Wakka Native Title Aboriginal Corporation chair Sam Murray, at front, with council and WWNTAC representatives (Photo: CASC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 5, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cherbourg councillors and the Wakka Wakka Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (WWNTAC) have reaffirmed their commitment to working together in a respectful and culturally grounded partnership. <\/p>\n

Mayor Bruce Simpson, councillors and CEO Chatur Zala met with WWNTAC Board members, including chair Sam Murray, in Cherbourg on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

They discussed the complex responsibilities held by both organisations, and set a pathway forward to achieve long-term outcomes for community.<\/p>\n

Mayor Simpson said the discussion was an important step in strengthening relationships built on trust, honesty and shared purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis meeting wasn\u2019t about projects or paperwork; it was about people, respect and doing things the right way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCherbourg is home to many tribes, many stories and many responsibilities. Council has a duty to govern fairly and transparently for the whole community, and that work is strongest when it walks alongside our Traditional Owners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Murray said the meeting reflected a shared desire to move forward together with clarity and vision, while honouring the deep cultural responsibilities carried by Wakka Wakka people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about what benefits us today,\u201d Mr Murray said.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s about what we leave behind for our grandchildren \u2014 something they can pick up and carry forward with pride.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr Murray emphasised that meaningful progress requires courage, reflection and a willingness to do things differently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout vision, you\u2019re stuck. This meeting was about lifting our eyes, being honest with each other and committing to a better way of working together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both parties acknowledged Cherbourg\u2019s unique history \u2014 a place shaped by dispossession, relocation and resilience \u2014 and the reality that today\u2019s community is built on many Nations living together on Wakka Wakka country.<\/p>\n

Council and WWNTAC will work toward a formal Memorandum of Understanding and continue discussions that support future agreements, including an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) which is critical to enabling housing and infrastructure development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cherbourg councillors and the Wakka Wakka Native Title Aboriginal Corporation have reaffirmed their commitment to working together in a respectful and culturally grounded partnership. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":368989,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22,3],"tags":[1135,1131],"yoast_head":"\nCouncil, Trad Owners Look To Future - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cherbourg councillors and the Wakka Wakka Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (WWNTAC) have reaffirmed their commitment to working together in a respectful and culturally grounded partnership.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/02\/05\/council-trad-owners-look-to-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Council, Trad Owners Look To Future - 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