Wurundjeri further build capacity and involvement with decision-making and planning of their waterways

During the 2023-24 year, Melbourne Water continued our ongoing relationship with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. Discussions during the year have included developing a formal partnership between the two parties with discussion ongoing. 

Melbourne Water acknowledge the impact settlement and development, and the management of water has had, and continues to have on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung community and are thankful for the ability to work together.

Our work together has several focal areas, including cultural ceremony and consultations, cultural heritage management, cultural values work and cultural mapping, cultural awareness and education, water strategy and policy, and caring for Country. Developing a formal partnership together will be complex and a process has been initiated to continue into 2024-25. 

There has been steady growth of the Narrap Unit Water Program in terms of capacity and ability to participate. Some key highlights for the year include the negotiations around the Amcor water licence and working towards water returns to the Birrarung, involvement in seasonal watering plans and streamflow management plans. The Narrap Water Program also had input into the Healthy Waterway Strategy mid-term review in 2024 and provided contribution to the development of the Watts River Integrated Catchment Management Plan.

The Water Program have also had critical involvement in the implementation of the Yarra Strategic Plan, the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy, and have welcomed the launch of Water is Life and support its actions and guiding principles. There are several other key strategic requiring time and thought including the Regional Catchment Strategy and development of new National Landcare Program projects, and the review of the Victorian Waterway Management Framework.

Participation in conferences and research have been highlights, with Narrap staff presenting and participating in OzWater in May 2024. Narrap also hosted a conference tour to Bolin Bolin Wetland, highlighting the research partnership with Melbourne Water and Melbourne University. Wurundjeri Corporation and Melbourne Water continued to discuss data sovereignty, data use and reuse with a series of workshops to renew data use protocols. Narrap Rangers also completed eDNA training in 2024 and are now qualified to take and process samples. Several fauna and flora surveys are planned for the coming year and further eDNA testing continually increases knowledge of Country.

The Narrap Ranger team have been very busy during 2023-24 and capacity has increased. The team now has grown to 25 Rangers and 6 project support staff with a dedicated crew working many contracts for Melbourne Water. Some of the key sites have been, Yan Yean Reservoir, Bolin Bolin, Laughing Waters, Macedon, Lerderderg, Coranderrk Creek, Brushy Creek and Deep Creek. Main tasks include managing culturally significant sites, weed control, revegetation, site assessments, monitoring for waterway, flora and fauna health.

During 2024 the Narrap Unit have been supported to develop a Yan Yean Healthy Country Plan. The planning process will conclude in late 2024 and involves all team members in workshopping with leaders finalising a plan supported by Trust for Nature. Melbourne Water have enabled this process but are not involved in the planning itself until the end of the process to allow Narrap Unit members to determine values and management priorities without influence.

Looking at the year ahead Wurundjeri Corporation welcome the support and commitment of Melbourne Water in the steady sustained growth of Wurundjeri capability to participate in decision making and planning in regard to their waterways and cultural landscapes.