Kabi Kabi people awarded native title over a 356,345-hectare area in Queensland

An Indigenous group have been awarded native title over a 356,345-hectare estate in Queensland.

The Federal Court on Monday formally recognised the Kabi Kabi people as native title holders over the land that includes Noosa, Bribie Island, Gympie, Maroochydore, Caloundra and Mudjimba Island.

The non-exclusive title rights mean the Kabi Kabi people have the right to hunt and camp in the area, but not to control access or the use of an area.

Non-Indigenous people still have a right to use the land under the non-exclusive native title, and those who own properties or homes in the areas will not be affected.

Justice Berna Collier told the court the group 'have and always have had native title rights and interests in this country'. 

'I congratulate everyone involved for reaching agreement in this matter, but in particular the Kabi Kabi people whose native title rights and interests have today received deserved recognition.' 

The legal claim was lodged back in 2013.

Monday's decision only applies to one section of the Kabi Kabi people's claim. Two other sections in the claim for additional land are yet to be determined. 

The native land title rights recognises the Indigenous group's rights to 'access, be present on, move about on and travel over the area'.

Justice Collier told the court the decision did not confer on the native title holders 'possession, occupation, use or enjoyment to the exclusion of all others, including other interests as defined in the judgement and which continue to have effect'.

Kabi Kabi traditional owner Brian Warner said it was a bittersweet moment as some elders had died before the land titles were given.

'Many of the people have been here from very start but we have lost a lot of elders along the way,' he said.

'So it's very emotional — we're mourning the ones we lost but celebrating our future and our people.' 

More to come