A court has determined three groups of Indigenous peoples can control access to parts of northwestern Victoria in a landmark native title decision.
The Federal Court has recognised the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee - the Latji Latji, Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri peoples - as holding exclusive rights to the land.
It means anyone who is not a traditional owner must seek permission to enter parts of their country, in a first-of-its-kind decision in Victoria.
The decision, made on Friday, follows a 10-year legal battle and covers thousands of square kilometres in the northwest corner of the state stretching to the South Australian border.
It takes in an area that includes Mildura, follows the Murray River, stretches south along the Calder Highway, and west through the Murray-Sunset National Park.
Apex Park Sandbar, Kings Billabong Park and Murray-Sunset National Park - known for its famous pink lakes - are on a list of landmarks covered by the claim.
https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/major-native-title-decision-awards-exclusive-rights-in-aussie-state/news-story/bf4c10780850fe3b4e3a74670e3c3441