Back to the Future Forum

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Last week the Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program Team had the pleasure of visiting Whadjuk Country in Fremantle to participate in a forum about visions for the future of Aboriginal Heritage in Western Australia.

After a warm Welcome to Country by Professor and Noongar Traditional Owner Len Collard, presentations were delivered by individuals from all over Western Australia. A highlight was hearing from Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura Traditional Owners from Juukan Gorge and how they see the future of Aboriginal Heritage in their country.

It was also great to see representation from the Yamaji region. Archaeologist Annie Carson and Wajarri Traditional Owners Colin Hamelett presented the collaborative work they have been conducting with Ethical Engagement Consultancy at Weld Range. The National Heritage listed sites within Weld Range include Wilgie Mia and Little Wilgie Aboriginal Ochre Mines and are very significant sites for the Wajarri peoples.

Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program Coordinator Bianca McNeair sat on the panel discussion alongside Geri Hayden from the Noongar and Bibbulmun Nation, Daniel Rowe from Goolarabooloo Country around the Broome area, Bruce Smith based in Laverton in the Goldfields region and Noel Nannup, respected Nyungar Elder who lives in Perth. All panel members gave their overview of the day and talked about their views on the changes to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill 2020.

Minister Ben Wyatt addressed the forum and provided an overview of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill 2020 and also made himself available for questions from the audience. The current Aboriginal Heritage Act was established in 1972 and has had very few changes made to it in the past 48 years.

While there were many ongoing concerns raised about the protection of Aboriginal Heritage in Western Australia, the development of the Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services (LACHS) will create space for Traditional Owners to speak for their own countries.

Taj with Professor and Noongar Traditional Owner Len Collard

LACHS will play an active role in the management of cultural heritage through facilitating onsultation with relevant Aboriginal people, making and facilitating ACH Management Plans, providing evidence to the Council about ACH and its importance and constructing a plan on how to minimise harm.

More information about the Aboriginal Heritage Bill 2020 can be found on the Dept Planning Lands and Heritage website: https://consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au/aboriginal-heritage/aboriginal-heritage-bill-2020/

Bianca McNeair – Midwest Aboriginal Rangers Program Coordinator

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.