Three Indigenous Drought Employment Crews are currently undertaking works in the Kerang area.  The North Central Catchment Management Authority’s (CMA) Drought Employment Program has employed twelve Indigenous people from the Barapa Barapa community to undertake important cultural heritage assessments and other works along the Loddon River upstream of Kerang. 

“To date we have employed over 170 local people under the current Drought Employment Program who are delivering important on ground works.  Recent employment and induction of the Indigenous Crews will ensure works undertaken along the Loddon will link in with the pre-work assessments required for future works under the Loddon Stressed River project” said North Central CMA Chief Executive Officer, Damian Wells.

Mark Pietzsch, Indigenous facilitator for the North Central CMA said “There are three crews based in the Kerang area. This area is rich in cultural history; the crews will be carrying out assessments of cultural heritage sites on public land along the Loddon River. Initially they will work from Appin South Road to Kerang. The Loddon River was a well used thoroughfare and numerous sites such as Scar trees, middens, cooking mounds and burial sites can be observed. The crews will locate and record these sites and would welcome any local community observations”.

Local community support in Kerang has enabled the crews to begin work immediately.

The crews will also record significant flora and fauna, pest plant and animal locations, and other points of interest on public land to inform river protection works. They will be traversing this area by foot over the coming months.

The Drought Employment Program is part of the Victorian Government’s drought relief efforts, and represents an investment of $2.4 million into North Central Victoria.  The program is being delivered by North Central CMA and will run until the end of June 2009.

If you would like further information on this project, please contact Mark Pietzsch from the North Central CMA on 5448 7124.

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au