Space Centre Australia Pty Ltd (SCA) has secured a spaceport land lease, signing a multi-decade agreement with the local Traditional Landowners for approximately 300 km² at Billy’s Lagoon, Cape York. The agreement paves the way for the development of the Atakani Space Centre (ASC).
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. It 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. A royalty framework will deliver long-term economic benefits in addition to the spaceport’s operational revenue.
“This is more than a commercial agreement it’s a moment of national significance,” said James Palmer, CEO of Space Centre Australia. “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. This raises the bar for Indigenous engagement in major infrastructure projects, not just in space, but across Australia.”
Representing the Billy’s Lagoon Family area, Ms. Andrea Toby said: “This agreement protects our cultural connection to country while opening new opportunities for our community. Over the past six years, Space Centre Australia has worked alongside us, listening to our needs and respecting our traditions. Atakani will be a place where our heritage is honoured, and our young people can reach for the stars both literally and figuratively.”
Hon. Scott Morrison AC, Advisory Chairman of Space Centre Australia, said: “This agreement secures the essential platform for Space Centre Australia to now realise our vision to develop the Atakani Space Port and the world class space ecosystem it will establish for Australia. The agreement importantly recognises that our vision is shared with our traditional owner partners who appreciate the multigenerational benefits this will bring for their community. We look forward to seeing the promise of this agreement realised for them and the broader Western Cape community”.
Located near the township of Weipa, North Queensland, is the only Australian Spaceport now with secured land in development at 120 south of the equator, the Atakani Space Centre offers orbital launch opportunities, year-round operational capacity, and strategic access to both equatorial and polar orbits. Its infrastructure will support the full spectrum of launch activity from sounding rockets and scientific balloon missions to sub-orbital test flights, low Earth orbit satellite launches, and heavy-lift commercial and Defence missions.
The project builds on SCA’s expanding international footprint, including collaboration with NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Goddard Space Flight Centre, and engagement with U.S. state and federal agencies to facilitate cross-border aerospace operations.
Developed in four phases from initial surveys and civil works to full commercial operations the Atakani Space Centre will serve commercial, defence, and scientific missions, securing Australia’s place in the global space economy while setting a new benchmark for culturally integrated infrastructure development.
