Township Lease held by the Executive Director 

Township Lease held by a Community Entity 

Who manages the lease? 

The Executive Director manages the Lease. 

For Traditional Owners who are interested in a Township Lease held by the Executive Director, the Australian Government will need to undertake a number of processes prior to entering into a new Lease. 

The Community Entity manages the Lease after an initial time of administration by the Executive Director.  

The Executive Director can support Traditional Owners through implementing a capacity building program to make sure the Community Entity has the necessary skills to manage the Township Lease. 

These skills include understanding appropriate governance structures and relevant land administration knowledge and systems to maintain secure tenure arrangements under the Lease. 

The Community Entity can manage both the decision-making processes and the land administration functions of the Township Lease, or the Community Entity can take on the decision making functions and engage the Executive Director and the Office of Township Leasing (or an alternative third-party) to fulfil the land administration functions.  

What land is managed? 

The land that sits within the boundary of the Township Lease.  

The land that sits within the boundary of the Township Lease. 

How does the community have their say? 

If the Lease is held by the Executive Director, they will work closely with the Traditional Owners to manage the land through a Consultative Forum.   

Consultative Forum Meeting Members are decided on by the relevant Land Trust and will include Traditional Owners and, where agreed, Township residents. 

The Consultative Forum Members give advice to the Executive Director and together they make decisions about how the land is used in the Township. 

These regular meetings will discuss land use and development in the Township.  

If the Lease is held by a Community Entity, they will determine the appropriate structure for community consultation.  

When this structure is in place, the community consultation process will discuss land use and development in the Township. 

This means the Community Entity will manage both the decision-making process as well as the land administration process. 

What if a Community Entity wants to take on the Township Lease from the Executive Director? 

The Executive Director passes on the decision-making function to the Community Entity when they request it. 

The Executive Director and OTL will work towards building the capability and capacity of the Community Entity before they transfer over the land administration functions.  

The Community Entity may take on the decision-making function immediately while continuing to work with the Executive Director and the Office of Township Leasing. 

What happens if the Community Entity can no longer hold the Township Lease?  

The Executive Director may take over the Lease.  

The Lease may be transferred to the Executive Director or another Community Entity. 

This ensures the secure tenure established under the Township Lease is protected if the Entity is unable to continue to manage the Lease.