Who manages Simpson Desert?

Answer 1

The traditional owners of the North and Northwest Simpson Desert are recognised by law to be the Eastern Arrerntepeople of central Australia. The Finke River area around Oasis Bore is held by the Irrwanyere Aboriginal Corporation who also joint manage Witjira National Park.

With regard to Government agencies, much of the southern part of the desert is managed by the South Australian Governmentthrough the Department of Environment and Heritage. Their management is over three reserves - Witjira National Park, The Simpson Desert Conservation Park and the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve.

In addition, the Friends of the Simpson Desert Parksvolunteer group, which comprises some 150 families, works to manage areas of the Simpson Desert around Dalhousie Springs, Poeppel Corner, Lone Gum and Purni Bore.

The pastoral leases of Macumba Station (Kidman) and Annandale Station (Clarke) make incursions into the south west corner of the desert, as do the pastoral leases of Alton Downs (Brook), Adria Downs (Brook) etc. on the Eastern boundary.

East of the tri state border at Poeppels Corner, the land is held by the Queensland National Parks Service as The Simpson Desert National Park. There are also numerous oil exploration leases within the dunefields.