Representatives from Space Centre Australia and Luthiggi Traditional Owners celebrate the acquisition of land needed to build Cape York’s Atakani Space Centre. Photo: Supplied.
Space Centre Australia (SCA) says the signing of a land lease for its proposed western Cape York spaceport represents a “landmark moment for Australia’s space industry”.
SCA announced on 13 August it had signed a multi-decade agreement with Luthiggi Traditional Owners for about 300 square kilometres of land at Billys Lagoon, paving the way for the development of the Atakani Space Centre.
The binding term sheet, signed with the support of Mokwiri RNTBC, marks the first time an Australian-based spaceport has secured a lease and opportunity of this scale.
The agreement ensures Traditional Owner access to Country for cultural and ceremonial purposes, governance participation through the soon-to-be-established Luthiggi Corporation, and direct involvement in environmental management, cultural heritage monitoring and operational activities.
In its announcement, SCA said a royalty framework would also deliver long-term economic benefits in addition to the spaceport’s operational revenue.
SCA chief executive officer James Palmer said he believed the agreement had “national significance” and would allow the spaceport project to take a giant leap forward.
“This is more than a commercial agreement – it’s a moment of national significance,” he said.
“The Atakani Space Centre is the first spaceport in Australia to achieve a lease of this size, and it’s the result of nearly six years of tireless work in Indigenous and community consultation; we have built this project with the Luthiggi people from the ground up, ensuring respect for culture, Country and community is at the core.”
Andrea Toby, representing the Billys Lagoon family area, praised the agreement.
“This agreement protects our cultural connection to Country, while opening new opportunities for our community,” she said.
“Atakani will be a place where our heritage is honoured, and our young people can reach for the stars both literally and figuratively.”
