Broome native title deal nation's biggest

Australia's biggest native title agreement - a package worth more than $196 million - will be signed in Broome today by the State Government and Yawuru traditional owners.

The two land use agreements grant the Yawuru people freehold title over lands for commercial, industrial and social development as well as significant coastal conservation reserves to be managed jointly by the Yawuru people, Broome shire and the State Government.

The settlement covers 5298sq km in and around Broome which was recognised as native title by Federal Court Justice Ron Merkel in 2006. Yawuru native title rights and interests will be extinguished in some areas in exchange for a $56 million package for "capacity building", economic development, social housing and cultural management.

The land the Yawuru people will get is worth about $140 million and will be for development and cultural and social welfare purposes.

The agreement is expected to increase land supply dramatically in Broome by freeing up big tracts for residential, tourism, industry and airport developments.

It marks the end of the Yawuru people's long fight for official recognition of their ownership of the land, which began when the original Rubibi claim was filed in the Federal Court in 1994.

Negotiations with the Government began in 2006.

Yawuru spokesman Peter Yu said the package appeared "quite substantial" but the money was tied to specific purposes aimed at securing the future of the Yawuru people and came with a "significant obligation and responsibility".

"This is not a mining agreement, these are not royalties or individual payments," he said.

"Fundamentally, what it means is a long overdue recognition of our interests and rights … We hope that the rest of the community will embrace this agreement and that there will be a greater participation of the Yawuru people in the mainstream economy."

The freehold land would be subject to normal development and planning processes.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said the agreement was an excellent outcome for native title holders and the wider WA community.

Broome shire president Graeme Campbell welcomed the deal, saying the council had been working towards it for many years.

He said it had been a "big week in Broome", with the council also signing off on the Broome North development on Monday night, clearing the way for a doubling in size and population of the tourist town.

"The Yawuru people worked with the State and the shire in the matter of Broome North and had previously cleared the native title and heritage components of that development prior to this agreement, which showed goodwill and intent," he said.

The development and agreement combined were expected to exert significant downward pressure on local housing prices.