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Land Management
Leases, licenses and land management information for our communities
Deed of Grant in Trust
Most of the land in each community within the Torres Strait Island Regional Council local government area is Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT).
Torres Strait Island Regional Council is the Trustee of the DOGITs, except Badu and Mer which are Torres Strait Islander Freehold (communal) land.
- DOGIT communities managed by TSIRC
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13
- Torres Strait Islander Freehold communities managed by Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs)
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2
- Divisions within the TSIRC footprint
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15
Useful Information
Licence agreements and leases
Licence agreements are generally short-term agreements for the use of spaces including, offices, demountable buildings, storage spaces and community halls.
Leases are usually a longer-term agreement and can be up to 99 years, for example 99-year home ownership leases, business leases, infrastructure leases and church leases.
Apply for a lease
Form for a 99 year home ownership lease
Form for a lease for another purpose (e.g business)
Once you complete the form and send it to the Trustee, the Trustee will consider your lease and follow the process in the Trustee Policy to consider whether or not to approve the lease.
Lease approval
The conditions are likely to include:
- Native Title consent
- a survey if the area has not been surveyed
- a development application (Town Planning approval)
More information on types of leases: Leasing Indigenous land | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | Queensland Government
Trustee Policy
Agreed decision-making processes will be published here once finalised.
Draft Community Schedules (more to come)
Ordinary freehold
For more information visit: Freehold title | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | Queensland Government
Freehold pilot project
The draft Freehold Instruments are available below.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Trustee of the DOGIT or Torres Strait Islander communal freehold can follow a process to make ordinary freehold available in the communities. So far, land has not been made available for ordinary freehold.
To apply for a lease, complete the home ownership application form and submit it to the Trustee.
To apply for a lease for another purpose (e.g. business), complete the standard application lease form.
Contact your Divisional Manager for more information on licences.
Check out information from the Queensland Government.
Applications for leases under the Land Holding Act (Katter leases) closed on 21 December 1991.
If you or a relative applied for a lease between 1985 and 1991 and it was approved by the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Council at the time, you may already hold a lease or you may have an entitlement to a lease.
For more information visit the Queensland Government website: Old lease applications - Land Holding Act and Katter leases | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | Queensland Government
DOGIT transfers are managed by the Queensland Government, for information visit: Land transfers and title return | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | Queensland Government
Please phone us on (07) 4034 5700 or email us at info@tsirc.qld.gov.au
Contact Us
General Enquiries:
Phone: 07 4034 5700
Fax: 07 4034 5750
Email: info@tsirc.qld.gov.au
Postal Address: PO Box 7336 Cairns QLD 4870
