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ABORIGINAL WATER INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER – ENGAGING ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN WATER MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
Water yarningIssue 3 August 2014 In this issue Welcome by Program Manager ............................. 1
Fee Waiver of Specific Purpose Access Licences . 2
Bioregional Assessment in NSW ........................... 2
Three permanent identified AWI positions in NOW ................................................................... 2
Stories from the North Mob .................................... 2
Collum Collum ........................................................ 2
Apex ........................................................................ 3
Grafton - Ngerrie LALC Workshop ......................... 3
Stories from the South Mob ................................... 3
Our Water Our Country - Case Studies .................. 3
Cultural watering of wetlands ................................. 4
Manager’s Report ................................................... 4
The AWI team wishes to acknowledge the diverse Traditional People and countries across NSW and pay their deepest respect to the Elders past and present of NSW
Welcome by Program Manager
I welcome you all to our third edition of AWI newsletter Water yarning. The Aboriginal Water Initiative Program remains focussed on developing our staff and providing effective regional engagement with Aboriginal communities in water. This is ensuring water dependant cultural values are considered by NSW water planning and management. I was provided the opportunity through invitation by Maui Hudson Senior Research Fellow University of
Waikato to travel to New Zealand to engage with an active Indigenous Science Panel and current Indigenous freshwater research projects on the North Island. The opportunity to further collaborate and learn from each other is exciting. Between the dates of 22nd and 28th June 2014, I attended Maori Eel Symposium, at Waikato-Tainui College, presented the AWI work at University of Waikato and visited the Landcare Research Division and NIWA Taihoro Nukurangi. I then visited Rotorua, and met the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Ngati Rangiwewehi Koaro Restoration Project (a beautiful and significant water place, see photo) and Te Arawa River Iwi Trust.
The junction of two natural spring fed streams – Hamurana Spring Reserve (in full Maori ownership).
The final two days were spent with Iwi Science Panel at the Maori Freshwater Research Workshop, Waikato-Tainui
Members of Iwi Science Panel at the Maori Freshwater Research Project
Water yarning – Issue 3, August 2014
Page 2 of 5 Water Yarning, August 2014
Fee Waiver of Specific Purpose Access Licences Bradley Moggridge
Don’t forget the waiver of approvals/license fees for new Specific Purpose Access Licences (SPAL) Aboriginal cultural specific came into force 1 July 2014 (waiver does not include water charges or infrastructure funds).
Please contact Lillian Moseley on 0459 840 781 or Gavin Callaghan on 0467 764 639 for further information.
Bioregional Assessment in NSW AWI has successfully attracted Commonwealth (Office of Water Science) funding for a position –Aboriginal Water Planner (Grade7-8) to undertake collection of water dependant cultural values for Bioregional Assessment Regions in NSW. The agreement includes funding up until 30 June 2015 and the position will be advertised (closing on JobsNSW 24 August 2014). The BA is a programme of bioregional assessments in order to better understand the potential impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments on water resources and water-related assets including cultural this is why AWI was engaged. For more information: http://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/index.shtml[S1] [S1]
The Bioregional Assessment Programme is targeting the regions in the map below (source: Australian Government 2014)
Three permanent identified AWI positions in NOW Bradley Moggridge
NOW has displayed its commitment to the AWI and Aboriginal employment by advertising three permanently identified positions, one Team Leader and two Senior Aboriginal Water Planners.
Stories from the North Mob Baryugil Workshop
AWI team members with community members during the Baryugil Workshop
Collum Collum Mr Andrew Donnelly manages "Collum Collum" on behalf of Baryugil LALC; which is a large property which has the Washpool running through it and many little creeks. Gavin Callaghan and Liz Taylor met with Andrew and John Magner- the CEO of Baryugil LALC on the 2nd July to discuss collecting water dependant cultural assets and Liz, Kara Talbot and Patricia Walker have been collecting assets with community members from Baryugil.
Andrew Donnelly Baryugil LALC – Photographer Liz Taylor
Water yarning – Issue 3, August 2014
Page 3 of 5 Water Yarning, August 2014
Apex Patricia Walker
The Apex is a significant spot for catching "cobra" a worm eaten on the coast by local Aboriginal people
"Cobra" is gathered by the men; the women stand on the logs so the men can collect the "cobra". Apex is also a recreation area for families and is also a great swimming spot.
Photo of Apex near Macksville – Photographer Patricia Walker
Grafton - Ngerrie LALC Workshop Lillian Moseley
Lillian Moseley and Gavin conducted a two day AWI Aboriginal Community Engagement Workshop on July 16 & 17, 2014. The workshop was attended by members of the Grafton-Ngerrie LALC Executive and traditional owners from the area.
Day One was the workshop many various issues were discussed in detail. Day Two was out in the field with community members working with AWI staff mapping and collecting water dependent cultural values for inclusion in the Clarence water sharing plans.
Stories from the South Mob Our Water Our Country - Case Studies Patricia Walker and Gavin Callaghan
Filming has commenced on the NSW south coast for the next round of case studies. This case study emanates from continuous association and connection to country.
It showcases Gulaga, the sacred mountain, and her networks of connection with significant sites in the area; from Montague Island in the sea to Pigeon Mountain in the south.
Women dancing by the sea portray the significance of water at the bottom of Gulaga's reaches. They
dance while their life force passes under them and finds its way to be united with the salt.
Film crew busy filming in the South – Photographer Patricia Walker
Filming of cultural tradition activities/dancing continued through the afternoon with Djuwaan Traditional Dancers, including Vivian Mason (Yuin Elder/Traditional Owner/Knowledge Holder) Sharon Mason (Knowledge Holder).
The Djuwaan Traditional Dancers were interviewed and recorded for the production the South Coast “Culture Continues”. The Community and Elders spoke of the significant connection to the ground water flowing from the mountain especially the women’s sites and the use of the local cultural resources e.g. native bush tuckers etc. in the area.
These case studies put our culture into a visual story; so that cultural practices, stories, connections and associations build substance for our generations, and the wider community. Launch of the four case studies, which are approximately 15-20mins long, will be advertised for later this year
Women Dancers - Photographer Patricia Walker
Water yarning – Issue 3, August 2014
Page 4 of 5 Water Yarning, August 2014
Cultural watering of wetlands Rene Woods
The Toogimbie IPA wetlands were watered in May 2014 which was the second inundation of the water year.
The Nari Nari Tribal Council the land holders of Toogimbie station in south west NSW near Hay on Nari Nari country have delivered a total of 1000 megalitres onto the Toogimbie wetlands. The Toogimbie IPA Wetland - Photographer – Rene Woods
Wagonga and Merrimans LALC’s DVD Production Gavin Callaghan
Geoffrey Dixon, Gavin, Lillian and Patricia assisted the DVD production crew to interview and record areas of cultural significance to the local Yuin People in the Narooma area. Ron Mason Snr (Yuin Elder/Traditional Owner/Knowledge Holder), Vivian Mason (Yuin Elder/Traditional Owner/Knowledge Holder), Bruce Ella (Deputy Chair WLALC), Warren Forster (Traditional Owner, Merrimans LALC), Lynne Thomas (Traditional Owner/Knowledge Holder) accompanied and guided the AWI staff to the summit of Gulaga Mountain a culturally significant place for the local Yuin people
Summit of Gulaga Mountain
Site inspection Big Bend 180 Gavin Callaghan
The AWI team and production visited a significant area known as Big Bend 180 which is on the main arm of the Tuross River, south coast NSW. Ron Mason Snr provided stories of his time as a child growing up at this site on the Tuross River. The Tuross River at Big Bend 180
Ron also spoke of the significant connection this place has to other significant places around this area of the Yuin nation. Ron Mason Snr showing us significant trees at the Big Bend
Manager’s Report AWIS Database Second Phase AWI has its own AWIS database, which will be ready to go live in September 2014. The information being currently collected under the program will be stored in the secure AWIS.
AWI - Traditional Owners Peer Review Group (TOPRG) – meeting 2 AWI held its second meetings with our Traditional Owner Peer Review Group (TOPRG) 21-22 May 2014 at La Perouse, Sydney. The TOPRG provide a point of contact for NOW’s broader consultation with the Aboriginal community and promotion of the AWI.
Water yarning – Issue 3, August 2014
Page 5 of 5 Water Yarning, August 2014
TOPRG meeting at Yarra Bay House - La Perouse – Photographer Kara Talbot
AWI Training • Frontline Management • Professional Writing Skills • Certificate IV Training and Assessment • Two AWI Staff have enrolled in Water/NRM
Graduate Diploma courses.
Workshops Bradley Moggridge
We are continuing to hold Aboriginal community consultation workshops being held as planned. AWI team is collecting Aboriginal Water dependant Cultural value for planning purposes.
Program communication and promotion Amardeep Grewal
• Posters advertising workshop schedule for distribution to key contacts on monthly basis.
• AWI program Banners display during workshops and information sessions
• AWI program brochures for distribution at workshops, meetings, conferences.
• Promotional mugs for distribution during community engagement sessions.
• DVD and Our Water Our Country resource kit for distribution during scoping meetings and workshops.
• Promotional shirts and bags for the team and TOPRG members.
• AWI Calendars for 2014 distributed at workshops, meetings, conferences.
• Case Studies and Cultural Values DVD (Northern NSW) ready for promotion.
• Case Studies and Cultural Values DVD (Southern NSW) in production
• Program Manager attended several other International and National conferences o IAH ACT seminar attended - Hydrogeology
in the ACT on 1 may 2014 to represent AWI o Presentation to the ACT initial Aboriginal
Community Consultation on the Water Resource Planning 9 April 2014, Canberra.
o OEH ECA workshop attended - AWI presentation on WDCV and Environmental Water on 6 - May 2014, Moree
o Attendance at Australian Environmental Watering Conference on 3rd June 2014 representing AWI, Sydney
The AWI Team in Parramatta 2014
Contacts Bradley Moggridge AWI Program Manager .................... 02 6229 7345
Water yarning is a newsletter from the Aboriginal Water Initiative at NSW DPI.
Editor: Amardeep Grewal [email protected]
ISSN 2203-0891
© State of New South Wales through the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, 2014. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary Industries as the owner.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (August 2014). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser.
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