Bunurong Water values
Bunurong Land Council have been getting out on Country to work with water industry staff and research leaders to manage and understand Country
Key outcomes for 2022/3
- Understanding cultural values, water assets, flows and water requirements
- Partnering with Deakin University to study sea grass restoration
- Building capacity to manage Country with NRM team
Melbourne Water have been supporting the Bunurong Land Council to be more actively involved in waterway management, sea Country management and improving understanding of flows and water requirements.
During 2022, projects were initiated to provide Cultural Value Assessments to waterway managers and strategy authors to allow approved cultural information to be included in planning. The focus of this work was in the Werribee River landscape. Bunurong community are now better equipped to respond to requests for cultural information in the Werribee landscape.
Bunurong Land Council’s Water team were involved in some exciting and interesting work during 2022/3. A series of on Country walks with Bunurong Water Officer Adam Atkinson meeting Melbourne Water people and visiting sites such as Cardinia, Tarago, Werribee. Werribee Environmental Flows Study. Engagement with Bunurong has also taken place around Seasonal Watering Proposal Development. Follow up activity may include an AWA for Dandenong Creek.
Melbourne Water work with several research partners to improve scientific knowledge and have supported projects by Deakin scientists researching seagrass restoration within Bunurong Sea Country. Two field visits were conducted during 2023 to connect and network and to improve understanding of the types of research that Bunurong community may wish to lead or be involved in. Following a visit to a mangrove and seagrass nursery at Advance College Native Nursery in Mornington where Melbourne Water and Deakin University propagation research has been occurring, Bunurong staff and rangers did a site visit to Western Port near Hastings. This was soon followed by a trip to the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff for further learning and discussion. This work and relationship will continue during 2023 and 2024 with opportunities for Bunurong to build capacity in seed collection, propagation and field planting with the research team.
As Bunurong continue to grow their capability to manage for healthy Country, Melbourne Water will continue to support their team. Meeting and strategy discussion has continued during 2022/3. Melbourne Water will continue to provide funding and technical support and are committed to this relationship into the future.
