INFORMATION MEETING
An information meeting is being held for all Noongar people on Wednesday, 31 March 2021 regarding Noongar opportunities at Baldivis Farms.
BACKGROUND
Baldivis Farms is located on Eighty Road, Baldivis and consists of a greenhouse, packing shed and 21.7 hectares of irrigated agricultural land in the Gnaala Karla Booja agreement group area. The Commonwealth’s Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) purchased Baldivis Farms in 2020 and leased the greenhouse to Abundance Fresh Farms Pty Ltd (AFF) in September 2020.
Abundance Fresh Farms is owned by Abundance Produce Australia Pty Ltd (80%) and the Aboriginal Housing Recovery Centre Limited (20%).
Abundance Produce is a majority owned Aboriginal agriculture and food supply business established in 2014 and has a 12,000sqm distribution centre in Canning Vale. It supplies and supports some of Australia’s largest companies such as Coles, Woolworths, Compass, Sodexo, Civeo, Brightwater and Qantas, and ten per cent of its workforce are Indigenous people.
The ILSC’s intention is to divest its interest in Baldivis Farms to an eligible Aboriginal community controlled entity.
PURPOSE OF THE INFORMATION
The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to Noongar people regarding Baldivis Farms and consult with the Gnaala Karla Booja people regarding divestment of the properties. No decisions will be made at the meeting.
All Noongar people are welcome to attend but consultation regarding the divestment of Baldivis Farms will be restricted to those people identifying as Gnaala Karla Booja Noongar people, as defined in Gnaala Karla Booja Native Title Agreement Group Description - from Gnaala Karla Booja Indigenous Land Use Agreement (Schedule 2) of the Gnaala Karla Booja Indigenous Land Use Agreement.
WHERE
Carnaby Hall, Mary Davies Library and Community Centre, 17 Settlers Avenue, BALDIVIS WA 6107 (map)
WHEN
11.30am - 2.00pm, Wednesday, 31 March 2021
AGENDA
The acquisition and ownership of Baldivis Farms (ILSC and SWALSC)
The management of Baldivis Farms and employment opportunities (Abundance Fresh Farms)
Consultation about the divestment of Baldivis Farms to an eligible Aboriginal community controlled entity (ILSC and SWALSC)
Visit to Baldivis Farms, Eighty Road, Baldivis (optional and own transport required). Directions and instructions on visiting Baldivis Farms will be provided at the meeting. (Abundance Fresh Farms)
Light refreshments provided.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions there are limitations at the venue on the number of people able to attend the meeting. Priority will be given to Gnaala Karla Booja Noongar people and then to other Noongar people on a first arrived basis.
This meeting is facilitated by South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation (SWALSC), Abundance Fresh Farms and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.