Riverland e-watering tour

Each year Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (SAMDB) delivers environmental water to a range of high-priority wetlands along the River Murray in South Australia.

In mid-April the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee (First Peoples) undertook a tour to see some of the outcomes of last year’s watering program, and discuss the proposed watering sites for 2014–15.

The group first visited Hogwash Bend, near Waikerie, where the wa:tji bushes or lignum (Duma florulenta) were thriving after being watered. An eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) was also found which gave turtle expert Professor Mike Thompson, who was also on the tour, the chance to discuss turtles and point out the distinguishing features of the different species.

After lunch the group travelled to Gerard to inspect an innovative watering trial focusing on black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) which is being run in partnership with the Aboriginal Lands Trust and the Kungun and Gerard Aboriginal Learning on Country (ALOC) teams. People were pleased to hear about the efforts being made to save these trees and the active role the community was taking in the project.

The last site visited was Carparks Lagoon, which is part of Katarapko, where the renewed health of the river red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) clearly demonstrated the importance of the environmental watering program.

Throughout the day there was a lot of excellent discussion about the options for watering wetlands, the environmental and cultural outcomes of the program, and how First Peoples can become more involved.

The tour was a partnership between the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, SA Native Title Services and Natural Resources SAMDB, and was supported with funding from the Australian Government and the SAMDB Natural Resources Management Board levy.

Working together to tackle Riverland rabbits

The River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) and Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (SAMDB) have been working closely for over a year to develop a shared understanding of the impact of rabbits, the various methods of their control, and the risks these pose to Aboriginal heritage.

Together a pilot process has been developed to ensure rabbit control is carried out in an effective and appropriate way. This involves working together to assess the sensitivity of sites and jointly deciding on the control method that is appropriate. A key part of the approach is including ALOC teams so they can learn from more experienced heritage officers.

The process was recently trialled for the first time at Lake Bonney where a large number of rabbit warrens were assessed over a two-day period. Both RMMAC and Natural Resources SAMDB found that the process worked well.

In the near future, rabbit control sites at Katarapko will be visited to further test the process before it is formally reviewed by RMMAC and Natural Resources SAMDB.

The project is supported with funding from the Australian Government and the SAMDB Natural Resources Management Board levy.

Paringa Paddock / Goat Island Wetland Management Plan

The First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee (First Peoples) have a wealth of knowledge about the River Murray and its wetlands, and are very involved in the development of wetland management plans across the Riverland.

A planning trip was recently held with First Peoples as part of the development of a wetland management plan for the Paringa Park / Goat Island wetland complex, near Renmark.

On this trip First Peoples outlined the cultural significance of the area, discussed objectives for the wetland’s management, inspected sites of proposed works and identified how they would like to be involved in the wetland's future management.

This input has provided very valuable information for the management of the wetland and has resulted in three additional objectives being included in the plan, relating to turtles, water birds and improved visitor management.

The project is a partnership between the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, SA Native Title Services and the Renmark to the Border Local Action Planning Committee, and is supported by funding from the Australian Government and the SAMDB Natural Resources Management Board levy.

Roonka water workshop

Representatives of the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee, the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association, the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority (NRA), and state and Commonwealth governments, came together recently at Roonka, near Blanchetown, to discuss Aboriginal engagement in water planning and management.

The workshop was an initiative of the Kungun Ngarrindjeri Yunnan (Listen to Ngarrindjeri Speaking) Agreement Taskforce and aimed to: consider how to better recognise Ngarrindjeri interests in water planning and policy; develop an engagement strategy to assist implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and; continue a two-way education process between government and Ngarrindjeri relating to water.

Many issues were discussed including Aboriginal participation in water decision making processes, Aboriginal water allocations, and integrating Aboriginal objectives and values into water planning.

The water workshop was funded by the Australian Government and the South Australian government's Murray Futures Program, a Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Reconciliation Committee Grant, and The Living Murray initiative of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.

Riverland Aboriginal heritage training

Staff from Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (SAMDB), Local Action Planning groups, and local government recently undertook training in the identification and protection of Aboriginal heritage.

The training, which was held at the McCormick Centre in Renmark and at Calperum Station, aimed to give staff the knowledge needed to ensure Aboriginal heritage is considered and protected during their on-ground activities. Staff were taught how to recognise Aboriginal heritage sites and objects and the correct processes to follow to minimise the risks of disturbance and report any sites or objects encountered.

A major focus of the training was emphasising the importance of engaging local Aboriginal groups early on in the planning process for any projects which may have a risk of damaging or disturbing sites or objects.

The training was delivered by the Aboriginal Heritage Branch, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. The training was supported by the SAMDB Natural Resources Management Board levy.

Bringing Gerard Creek back to life

A new project is planning to get life flowing back into the creek at Gerard, one of the Riverland’s most culturally significant places.

The creek, which was once beautiful and healthy and a popular area for camping, hunting and fishing, is now blocked off from the river, lined with dead trees, and very saline in some places.

As part of this project, a survey was recently undertaken to identify and measure the height of blockages and restrictions which are preventing water from flowing into and through the creek. The information from this survey will now be used to identify options for removing these blockages and to design a new vehicle crossing.

The project is a partnership between the Gerard Community, the Aboriginal Lands Trust and Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, and is supported by funding from the Australian Government and the SAMDB Natural Resources Management Board levy.

First Peoples' climate change workshop

The First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee Region (First Peoples) were involved in a recent climate change regional adaptation plan workshop at Barmera. The workshop was organised at the request of First Peoples following an initial presentation to them on the project in February.

At the workshop First Peoples discussed their concerns about climate change and its likely impacts on the interrelated issues of community wellbeing, river flows, flora and fauna, Aboriginal heritage, and their ability to maintain traditional practices and knowledge.

First Peoples' involvement in the development of this plan has ensured that their knowledge is utilized, their concerns are considered, and that they are involved in future decision making and activities to address, or adapt to, climate change.

This project was supported with funding from the Australian Government and the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board Levy.

Yalata / Riverland Working on Country exchange

The first exchange between the Riverland Working on Country (WOC) Rangers and the Yalata Land Management team was held in late June.

Riverland WOC and Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin staff from the Riverland spent a week in the remote Yalata Indigenous Protected Area, on the far west coast of South Australia, to spend time with the Yalata Land Management team.

There are a range of different activities undertaken at Yalata including camel control, marine fish monitoring, different approaches to revegetation and rock-hole cleaning.

The Yalata Land Management team is now planning to visit the Riverland and is looking forward to seeing the area and trying some new activities such as wetland monitoring.

The WOC project and the exchange was supported by funding from the Australian Government.

For more information

For more information on the stories in this update, or to discuss submitting stories for future issues, please contact Chris Koolmatrie, Aboriginal Partnerships Project Officer, Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, on (08) 8580 1800.