Mining and fracking ruled out at NT park

Traditional owners of the Northern Territory's Watarrka National Park, which includes Kings Canyon, are celebrating after the land was ruled off limits for mining and fracking.

The Central Land Council says the traditional owners have learnt the territory government has declared a mineral and petroleum reserve over the park at a meeting on Thursday.

CLC Director David Ross says the group has rallied against mining on their land for the past 15 years and opposed two exploration permit applications for the park in 2012.

"It just goes to show what can be achieved with a persistent, patient and united campaign," he said in a statement.

Mr Ross commended the Labor government for taking a different approach to protecting the park from the previous Country Liberal Government which refused to grant ongoing protection.

"It's great to see that the (Michael) Gunner government is fair dinkum about correcting the mistakes of the past," he said.

An application for the park to be protected under the federal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act also remains in place, and it is being assessed for National Heritage Listing.