Wadawurrung Dja and yulluks

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners have developed and signed a formal agreement with Melbourne Water and been involved in projects using cultural information to manage Country and waterways.

Key Outcomes for 2023

  • Partnership Agreement with Melbourne Water
  • Returning Wiyn to Country
  • Cultural value assessment for Werribee River
  • Werribee River flows study
Partnership Agreement artwork by Chloe Chatterton.

During National Reconciliation Week 2023, Melbourne Water and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation signed their Partnership Agreement, Wunggurwill Ngitj, meaning Strong together.

This Partnership Agreement was co-designed over 6 months and sets out the framework under which Melbourne Water and Wadawurrung will work together to support and implement the Paleert Tjaara Dja Wadawurrung Country Plan across the yulluks (waterways), Dja (Country) and skies of Wadawurrung Country. The Agreement is action based and has four themes, covering cultural business, water policy and strategy, Country management, and cultural heritage management.

Nerina Di Lorenzo and Greg Robinson sign Partnership Agreement at Ryans Swamp.

Wadawurrung have been involved in waterway management discussions and learnings within the Werribee River landscape during 2023. Involvement in the flow assessment of the upper Werribee has been a valuable learning and allowed more knowledge of how water assets are managed and manipulated. Further studies have commenced on a landscape sized cultural value assessment of the lower Werribee River to be completed late 2023 allowing Wadawurrung community to provide cultural value information into planning and management decision making.

Water Officer Greg Robinson at Werribee diversion weir.

Wadawurrung completed a cultural burn at the Western Treatment Plant grasslands in May 2023, the first in an ongoing program in collaboration with CFA and supported by Forest Fire Management Victoria. They used traditional firesticks and achieved a slow, patchy burn that is safer and better for flora and fauna. 

T-Section Wadawurrung burn extent, May 2023.

It was a 10 hectare burn of high quality grassland next to T-Section lagoon, which is managed for biodiversity conservation. Wadawurrung elder Aunty Glenda started the lighting of the burn, closely led by the Blair and Tammy Gilson and the rest of the Wadawurrung team. 

Slow moving cultural burn at T-Section grassland.

CFA were supporting with fire suppression resources, but left the lighting to Wadawurrung. Wadawurrung did a great job of the burn, and CFA invited a wide range of brigades as an opportunity for them to learn and gather more support for ecological and Traditional Owner burns. 

This is the first of an ongoing program of cultural and ecological burns at WTP, and has been a great opportunity for all organisations involved to learn and grow together in the spirit of reconciliation. 

 

“By entering into a formal partnership with Melbourne Water, we are guaranteeing the ongoing protection of our rich Biocultural landscapes across Melbourne Waters footprint on Wadawurrungs Country.”

Greg Robinson – WTOAC Co-Chair