To achieve the aspirations of the Warnindilyakwa Traditional Owners, the Executive Director is supporting the transfer of the Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island Township Lease to a community entity. To facilitate the planning, and the management of the complex work required to achieve the Transfer of a Township Lease, the Executive Director entered into a Heads of Agreement with the Anindilyakwa Land Council.

 The Heads of Agreement formalised the strong partnership approach between the two organisations and described the governance arrangements that would guide the decision making as the project to transfer the lease progressed. Establishing these arrangements up front created certainty and a structured approach; an important starting point in implementing the first transition of secure tenure arrangements from the Executive Director to a community controlled organisation. It also enabled key stakeholders such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency to be involved in the planning and execution of the transfer.

This important evolution in the Township Leasing Model provides an opportunity for the Office to support the creation and development of strong, sustainable community entities. Documenting the agreements, approaches and processes devloped to manage the transition will inform future Township Lease transfers. Many of these, including lessons learned from each project, will be integrated into the Township Leasing Framework.