Twelve Indigenous men from the Barapa Barapa community, employed through the North Central Catchment Management Authority’s (CMA) Drought Employment Program were presented with the prestigious 2009 Victorian Indigenous Landcare Award at a recent gala presentation at Government House.  

North Central CMA program manager, Tim Shanahan, is proud of the group’s achievements, “The Indigenous Landcare award recognises an outstanding Indigenous community group that has adopted or promoted sound land management practices on public or private land, and worked towards sustainable land use by either protecting or improving an area on behalf of the community”. 

“Under the Drought Employment Program, the North Central CMA saw an opportunity for local Indigenous people to re-connect to country around the Kerang Lakes and Gunbower Forest,” said Mr Shanahan.

“The program also enabled the team to participate in training and gain skills and experience to undertake environmental site assessments along the Loddon River, from Appin South to Kerang in the state’s north.  Overall, more than 268 Aboriginal cultural heritage sites were identified.

“The team focussed on Aboriginal cultural heritage and river health assessment as they moved along the 26 kilometre stretch along the Loddon River.  They assessed flora and fauna, pest plants and animals, river condition, deep river pools, riparian vegetation, fish habitat, rubbish build-up, bank erosion and waterway and boundary fencing in need of repair.  It also increased our understanding of indigenous issues within the North Central CMA region and opened up communication”, said Mr Shanahan.

Mr Shanahan stressed the importance of cultural heritage protection works in the big picture of natural resource management in the region.

“The field assessments are a unique blend of certified indigenous cultural heritage identification with river health assessment. The bringing together of these two NRM aspects has resulted in a distinctive understanding of this section of the river. We can now plan river works along this section to achieve far better outcomes for the environment and the indigenous community”.

The project also provided an opportunity for the sharing of knowledge with the wider community. The Indigenous team made contact with all of the private landholders along the river survey area, to negotiate access and inform them about the project. The team received expert advice and support from staff at Department of Primary Industries Kerang, the Gannawarra Shire and Bendigo Regional Institute of Technology.

The Drought Employment team was employed under the North Central Drought Employment Program, part of a Victorian Government $2.4 million investment across the state.

Cultural site information collected by the crew was made available to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria for confirmation and registration on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register.

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