North East CMA Final Annual Report 2019 20

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

North East CMA Final Annual Report 2019 20 Annual Report 2019— 2020 North East Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2019—2020 NORTH EAST CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2019 — 20 Traditional Owner Acknowledgment North East Catchment Management Authority (North East CMA) acknowledges the Traditional Owners. We recognise the diversity of the cultures and the intrinsic connections they have with their Country. The North East CMA pays respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise the primacy of their obligations, responsibilities and rights to care for their Country. Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this publication may contain images or names of deceased people. About this report This report provides information on the North East CMA‘s operational highlights, performance and finances for 2019‑20. It also reports against agreed state‑wide indicators and trends for catchment health: Waterways, Biodiversity, Land and Community. This report was prepared in accordance with all relevant Victorian legislation, including the requirement under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 for the North East CMA to submit ‘a report on the condition and management of land and water resources in its region and the carrying out of its functions’. Design and print complies with Department of Treasury and Finance Reporting Direction 30D, which aims to achieve consistency and minimise costs and environmental impact across government agencies. Front Cover Photo Credits: Top: King River (Credit Natalie Ord). Middle Left: Fishing at Lake Buffalo (Credit Natalie Ord). Middle Right: HVP and CMA staff inspect fire impact in the Upper Murray.Bottom: Karen Bowley and Dirk de Zwart, Bush for Birds incentive recipients through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. 2 NECMA.VIC.GOV.AU Contents Message from the Chair ....................2 Message from the CEO .....................4 Introduction ...............................6 Our Catchment ............................7 Report of Operations 8 Financial Statements 63 Auditor General’s Certification ............. 64 SECTION 1 How this report is structured .............. 66 A year in review 9 Accountable Officer’s declaration .......... 67 Key Achievements and Initiatives............9 Comprehensive operating statement ...... 68 Balance sheet . 69 SECTION 2 Cash flow statement ...................... 70 Governance and Statement of changes in equity ............ 71 Organisational Structure 32 Notes to the financial report ............... 72 Organisational Structure ...................33 Our Board . .34 Board Meetings . 36 Appendices 110 Compliance................................39 Appendix 1 Financial Summary.........................52 Disclosure Index ...........................110 Appendix 2 SECTION 3 Operational performance ...................112 Workforce Data 54 Appendix 3 Our Workforce Profile . 54 Catchment condition indicators and trends ..118 Waterways ................................121 Biodiversity ...............................124 Land ......................................131 Community ................................134 Appendix 4 Glossary of terms ..........................138 1 NORTH EAST CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2019 — 20 Message from the Chair The past 12 months have been a real challenge for north east Victoria. We have faced drought, bushfires and impact from smoke, localised flooding and coronavirus (COVID‑19). Throughout this, we have continued to focus on maintaining and delivering services in partnership with state agencies, public and private land managers and our community. With 22% of our catchment burnt during the summer’s bushfires, there was, and still is, much work to do in the recovery process. We thank the Victorian and Australian Governments for the additional funds provided to support communities and several environmental projects. Our team managed 13 sites where damage posed a high risk to river health; debris was removed and river banks were stabilised. Bushfire recovery in our catchment will be a long‑term focus, and we also acknowledge the severe devastation the bushfires had for our partner and neighbour, East Gippsland CMA. We understand that the economic and social impacts of COVID‑19 on top of the drought and bushfires, had cumulative effects on people’s mental health; highlighting the need to support both our community and staff. Community and staff An increasing number of people are wanting to connect with their environment to maintain health and wellbeing and this highlighted the importance of our role in protecting natural assets for the benefits of people, plants and animals. This is in line with the Victorian Government Strategy ‑ Biodiversity 2037 target that ‘by 2037 all Victorians are connecting with nature’. In order to embed resilience in our community, this year we continued our journey to further establish trust with partners in our community, which is even more important in this rapidly changing environment. One of these important partnerships is with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians. This year we worked with the Taungurung Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, the Duduroa‑Dhargal Aboriginal Corporation, and the Alpine First Nations Alliance made up of Dhudhuroa, Waywurru and Yaitmathang people. Our Board and staff have a genuine interest in, and respect for Aboriginal ecological knowledge and culture, and we acknowledge the constructive and positive effects this has across the community and environment. We know this year’s challenges placed extra pressure on our staff and I recognise and thank them for their dedication to our vision and values. Staff health, safety and wellbeing is at the forefront of all that we do. This year engagement in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter from the Victorian Public Sector’s Leading the Way initiative helped staff build skills and capacity to deal with stresses in these areas. 2 NECMA.VIC.GOV.AU On ground works Through Australian Government funding we have continued to support hundreds of farmers across the catchment to improve pasture and soil health. We are two years into a four‑year project to improve habitat for, and ultimately see an increase in numbers of, the threatened regent honeyeater. This project, in partnership with Trust for Nature protects regent honeyeater habitat and improves habitat connection; both key prerequisites for survival of existing birds and an increase in breeding. This year, our team also completed a four‑year program funded by the Victorian Government’s $222 million investment to improve the health of waterways. The 85 km of fencing installed has restricted livestock access to waterways to aid in reducing stream bank erosion and improving water quality. Thousands of hectares of weed control has been achieved making a significant improvement in our catchment’s productive capacity. Looking forward We thank the outgoing Board directors Jenny Indian, Peter Farrell and Cate Prichard for their valued contributions. We were pleased to welcome three new board members in October 2019 Judith Ahmat, Euan Ferguson and Dr Jan Mahoney. They bring a wealth of skills and experience and their contributions have been most positive As we reflect on the challenges and achievements of the year, it is timely that the Regional Catchment Strategy is due to be revised. Our Regional Catchment project steering group includes representatives from our partners and the community including six Traditional Owners and First Nations partners. The steering group is established to take a holistic and consultative approach to lead the identification of areas across the catchment in which we need to persist, where we must adapt and where we can transform. This is an important and exciting opportunity to plan our contribution to supporting a vibrant, resilient, healthy and sustainable region, one in which we value and care for the picturesque landscapes in which we have chosen to live and work. Leanne Mulcahy Chair, North East Catchment Management Authority 22nd September 2020 Dr Maureen Rogers Deputy Chair, North East Catchment Management Authority 22nd September 2020 The Board of the North East Catchment Management Authority (Back L‑R Dr Lee Baumgartner, Jan Mahoney, Russel Sheppard, Robert Hescock, Miriam McGowan Front L‑R Judith Ahmat, Leanne Mulcahy, Dr Maureen Rogers (absent Euan Ferguson)) 3 NORTH EAST CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2019 — 20 Message from the CEO I want to congratulate our staff for their incredible achievements this year. I thank them for their hard work and commitment to delivering on all the targets set for the four‑year Victorian Government funded projects contributing to the achievement of Water for Victoria. At one stage it seemed we wouldn’t meet the targets. Their efforts to catch up and deliver have produced major benefits for the environment over the past 4 years. Waterway health has been protected and enhanced by excluding 609 ha from stock grazing and the installation of 49 water troughs to keep stock out of streams, 526 ha of revegetation works will improve river biodiversity, 175 landholders signed‑up to manage land along waterways and 17,221 people have been engaged with by the North East CMA. Through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, the CMA and Trust for Nature worked with 24 landholders to protect and enhance over 1,000 ha of habitat on private land
Recommended publications
  • Your Candidates Metropolitan
    YOUR CANDIDATES METROPOLITAN First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Election 2019 “TREATY TO ME IS A RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF THIS COUNTRY AND THAT OUR VOICE BE HEARD AND RESPECTED” Uncle Archie Roach VOTING IS OPEN FROM 16 SEPTEMBER – 20 OCTOBER 2019 Treaties are our self-determining right. They can give us justice for the past and hope for the future. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria will be our voice as we work towards Treaties. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria will be set up this year, with its first meeting set to be held in December. The Assembly will be a powerful, independent and culturally strong organisation made up of 32 Victorian Traditional Owners. If you’re a Victorian Traditional Owner or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in Victoria, you’re eligible to vote for your Assembly representatives through a historic election process. Your voice matters, your vote is crucial. HAVE YOU ENROLLED TO VOTE? To be able to vote, you’ll need to make sure you’re enrolled. This will only take you a few minutes. You can do this at the same time as voting, or before you vote. The Assembly election is completely Aboriginal owned and independent from any Government election (this includes the Victorian Electoral Commission and the Australian Electoral Commission). This means, even if you vote every year in other elections, you’ll still need to sign up to vote for your Assembly representatives. Don’t worry, your details will never be shared with Government, or any electoral commissions and you won’t get fined if you decide not to vote.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to Traditional Owner Groups For
    A Guide to Traditional Owner Groups Th is m ap w as e nd orse d by th e Murray Low e r Darling Rive rs Ind ige nous Nations (MLDRIN) for Water Resource Plan Areas - re pre se ntative organisation on 20 August 2018 Groundwater and th e North e rn Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) re pre se ntative organisation on 23 Octobe r 2018 Bidjara Barunggam Gunggari/Kungarri Budjiti Bidjara Guwamu (Kooma) Guwamu (Kooma) Bigambul Jarowair Gunggari/Kungarri Euahlayi Kambuwal Kunja Gomeroi/Kamilaroi Mandandanji Mandandanji Murrawarri Giabel Bigambul Mardigan Githabul Wakka Wakka Murrawarri Githabul Guwamu (Kooma) M Gomeroi/Kamilaroi a r a Kambuwal !(Charleville n o Ro!(ma Mandandanji a GW21 R i «¬ v Barkandji Mutthi Mutthi GW22 e ne R r i i «¬ am ver Barapa Barapa Nari Nari d on Bigambul Ngarabal C BRISBANE Budjiti Ngemba k r e Toowoomba )" e !( Euahlayi Ngiyampaa e v r er i ie Riv C oon Githabul Nyeri Nyeri R M e o r Gomeroi/Kamilaroi Tati Tati n o e i St George r !( v b GW19 i Guwamu (Kooma) Wadi Wadi a e P R «¬ Kambuwal Wailwan N o Wemba Wemba g Kunja e r r e !( Kwiambul Weki Weki r iv Goondiwindi a R Barkandji Kunja e GW18 Maljangapa Wiradjuri W n r on ¬ Bigambul e « Kwiambul l Maraura Yita Yita v a r i B ve Budjiti Maljangapa R i Murrawarri Yorta Yorta a R Euahlayi o n M Murrawarri g a a l rr GW15 c Bigambul Gomeroi/Kamilaroi Ngarabal u a int C N «¬!( yre Githabul R Guwamu (Kooma) Ngemba iv er Kambuwal Kambuwal Wailwan N MoreeG am w Gomeroi/Kamilaroi Wiradjuri o yd Barwon River i R ir R Kwiambul !(Bourke iv iv Barkandji e er GW13 C r GW14 Budjiti
    [Show full text]
  • Family Violence Policies, Legislation and Services: Improving Access and Suitability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men
    Family violence policies, legislation and services: Improving access and suitability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men MARCIA LANGTON | KRISTEN SMITH | TAHLIA EASTMAN LILY O’NEILL | EMILY CHEESMAN | MERIBAH ROSE RESEARCH REPORT ISSUE 26 | DECEMBER 2020 ANROWS acknowledgement This material was produced with funding from the Australian Government and the Australian state and territory governments. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) gratefully acknowledges the financial and other support it has received from these governments, without which this work would not have been possible. The findings and views reported in this paper are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to the Australian Government, or any Australian state or territory government. Acknowledgement of Country ANROWS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land across Australia on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present, and future, and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and knowledge. We are committed to standing and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, honouring the truths set out in the Warawarni-gu Guma Statement. The cover art features Resilience (2014), an ANROWS-commissioned art series by Christine Blakeney, a Wiradjuri/Yaegl woman from NSW. Peer review process The quality of ANROWS publications is ensured through a rigorous peer review process that is consistent with the principles of the Committee
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 25-26: Recommendation References
    25 Recommendations The residents of the Murray-Darling Basin live in an environment very different to that prior to the arrival of Europeans. In some cases the change is most apparent in the form of cleared land and degraded environments, all too obvious even to those without scientific training. Other changes are not obvious and it is only by comparison with hard evidence from the past that we recognise that change has transpired. The information collected and presented in this publication provides a picture, undeniably incomplete, of the former distribution and abundance of the larger native fish species in the southern Murray-Darling Basin. A comparison of the current status of native fish in the basin with the historical information confirms the assessment of the Native Fish Strategy that a dramatic decline has occurred and that the native fish populations of today are by comparison a small fraction of what existed at the time of European settlement. They have undergone not only a severe decline in abundance but also in their distribution and the range of habitats they once flourished in. A large number of knowledge gaps remain in individual catchments and more historical research needs to be undertaken to establish, with what information survives, the original distribution and habitat associations of native fish. This project concentrated on the southern half of the Murray-Darling Basin and an equivalent project is warranted in the north. From the oral history collected in this project it is apparent that native fish had declined in many areas by the 1930s and therefore only the oldest of residents have recollections of the fishery prior to substantial change.
    [Show full text]
  • Dhudhuroa and Yaithmathang Languages and Social Groups in North-East Victoria – a Reconstruction
    Dhudhuroa and Yaithmathang languages and social groups in north-east Victoria – a reconstruction Ian D Clark The determination of Aboriginal languages in north-east Victoria has been acknowledged by a number of authors as one of the most problematical areas in the reconstruction of Victorian Aboriginal languages and dialects at the time of first contact.1 Of particular interest is the Omeo district and resolution of the labels ‘Jaithmathang’ and ‘Gundungerre’. This article will provide a systematic analysis of primary sources relative to language, dialect and social group names. It also provides an overview of lexicostatistical analyses of vocabulary from the study area and undertakes a preliminary analysis of vocabulary from the Omeo district to determine its similarity with neighbouring languages. Finally it analyses previous research into constituent social groups. Dhudhuroa – the language The etymology of the language name ‘Dhudhuroa’ has been explained by Blake and Reid as follows: Dhudhuroa appears to consist of the first syllable of the word for ‘no’ reduplicated. The word for ‘no’ is dhubalga. It is common in southeastern Australia to base language names on the word for ‘no’. The remainder of the name is likely to be wurru, which means ‘mouth’ or ‘language’ in a number of Victorian languages.2 Variant spellings The earliest recording of the name ‘Do.dor.dee’ is found in the papers of GA Robinson, and dated 1840. Other variants include ‘Dodora’; ‘Dodoro’; ‘Toutourrite’; ‘Theddora-mittung’; ‘Dhuthuro’wa’; ‘Dhoo-dhoo-ro’wa’; ‘Dhudhuroa’; and ‘Duduroa’. Theddora-mittung is sourced from Howitt,3 and Blake and Reid are of the view that Theddora is sufficiently similar to Dhudhuroa 1 Tindale 1940, 1974; Barwick 1984; Clark 1993, 1996a,b; and Wesson 1994, 2000, 2002.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Management Plan 2020-21
    Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan 2020–21 Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the Murray–Darling Basin The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, their Elders past and present, their Nations of the Murray–Darling Basin, and their cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2020. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan 2020-21 is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This report should be attributed as ‘Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan 2020-21, Commonwealth of Australia, 2020’. The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright’ noting the third party. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly by, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Historical Journal
    VICTORIAN HISTORICAL JOURNAL VOLUME 91, NUMBER 1, JUNE 2020 ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA VICTORIAN HISTORICAL JOURNAL ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA The Victorian Historical Journal has been published continuously by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria since 1911. It is a double-blind refereed journal issuing original and previously unpublished scholarly articles on Victorian history, or occasionally on Australian history where it illuminates Victorian history. It is published twice yearly by the Publications Committee, overseen by an Editorial Board, and indexed by Scopus and the Web of Science. It is available in digital and hard copy. https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/publications/victorian-historical-journal/ The Victorian Historical Journal is a part of RHSV membership: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/membership/become-a-member/ EDITORS Richard Broome and Judith Smart EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE VICTORIAN HISTORICAL JOURNAL Emeritus Professor Graeme Davison AO, FAHA, FASSA, FFAHA, Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor, Monash University (Chair) https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/graeme-davison Emeritus Professor Richard Broome AM, FAHA, FRHSV, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University, and President of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/display/rlbroome Associate Professor Kat Ellinghaus, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/display/kellinghaus Professor Katie Holmes, FASSA, Director, Centre for the Study of the Inland, La Trobe University https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/display/kbholmes Professor Emerita Marian Quartly, FFAHS, Monash University https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/marian-quartly Professor Andrew May, Department of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne https://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person13351 Emeritus Professor John Rickard, FAHA, FRHSV, Monash University https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/john-rickard Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols Guide 2018 Contents
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols Guide 2018 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3 Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community ........ 5 Terminology when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples .......................................................... 9 Other terminology ............................................................................................ 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols ....................... 13 Tips for effective communication ....................................................... 16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags .................................... 17 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander calendar ......................... 18 Boundaries and languages ........................................................................ 20 Resources .................................................................................................................. 21 Front cover image © First Nations Legal & Research Services Ltd 2013 Introduction Purpose Scope The purpose of this protocols guide is to provide This guide applies to Councillors and all employees City of Greater Bendigo employees with guidance of the City. regarding engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It provides practical advice Rationale on the appropriate use of terminology when engaging with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait The use of this guide will assist
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Environmental Water Holder | Seasonal Watering Plan 2020–21 | 177
    176 |Cowanna Victorian Billabong,Environmental by MalleeWater HolderCMA | Seasonal Watering Plan 2020–21 Section 5 Northern region Victorian Environmental Water Holder | Seasonal Watering Plan 2020–21 | 177 5.1 Northern region overview 179 5.2 Victorian Murray system 195 5.2.1 Barmah Forest 196 5.2.2 Gunbower Creek and Forest 203 5.2.3 Central Murray wetlands 212 5.2.4 Hattah Lakes 220 5.2.5 Lower Murray wetlands 225 5.2.6 Lindsay, Mulcra and Wallpolla islands 231 5.3 Ovens system 240 5.4 Goulburn system 246 5.4.1 Goulburn River 247 5.4.2 Goulburn wetlands 254 5.5 Broken system 258 5.5.1 Broken River and upper Broken Creek 259 5.5.2 Lower Broken Creek 265 5.5.3 Broken wetlands 269 5.6 Campaspe system 272 5.6.1 Campaspe River 273 5.6.2 Coliban River 279 5.7 Loddon system 282 5.7.1 Loddon River system (including Tullaroop, Serpentine and Pyramid creeks) 283 5.7.2 Boort wetlands 293 5.7.3 Birchs Creek 297 Victorian Murray System Loddon Broken system system Ovens system Goulburn system Campaspe system 178 | Victorian Environmental Water Holder | Seasonal Watering Plan 2020–21 5.1 Northern region overview 5.1 Northern region overview The northern region has six river systems, four major foodplain sites and many wetlands that can receive water for the environment. The Broken, Campaspe, Goulburn, Loddon and Ovens river systems are tributaries of the Murray River. The four major foodplain sites along the Murray River corridor are Barmah Forest, Gunbower Forest, Hattah Lakes and Lindsay, Mulcra and Wallpolla islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Management Plan 2020-21: Chapter 3.12
    Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan Chapter 3.12 – River Murray Valley 2020–21 This document represents a sub-chapter of ‘Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan 2020-21, Commonwealth of Australia, 2020’. Please visit: https://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/publications/water-management-plan-2020-21 for links to the main document. Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the Murray–Darling Basin The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, their Elders past and present, their Nations of the Murray–Darling Basin, and their cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2020. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan 2020-21 is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This report should be attributed as ‘Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Water Management Plan 2020-21, Commonwealth of Australia, 2020’. The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright’ noting the third party. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly by, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Reflections Highlight Several Examples of the Benefits and Partnerships Arising from This Contribution
    eflections Water for the Environment in Victoria 2019-20 Moorabool River, by VEWH Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners The Victorian Environmental Water Holder proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal people In many regions of Victoria, Traditional as Australia’s first peoples and as Owner Nations have strong relationships Traditional Owners and custodians of with environmental watering program the land and water on which we rely. partners, and they are working to We recognise the intrinsic connection better realise Aboriginal Victorians’ of Traditional Owners to Country, and aspirations and incorporate Traditional we value their ongoing contribution to Owners’ objectives into environmental managing Victoria’s landscapes. We flow management. There are still value the contribution of Aboriginal further opportunities for the Victorian people and communities to Victorian Environmental Water Holder and life and how this enriches us. its partners to develop enduring partnerships with Traditional Owners who The Victorian Environmental Water wish to participate in the management Holder recognises the intersection of water for the environment, and we will between environmental flow objectives continue to look for these opportunities. and outcomes for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians. We The Victorian Environmental Water acknowledge the ongoing contribution Holder embraces the spirit of that Aboriginal people are making to reconciliation, working towards equity the science, planning, managing and and an equal voice for Traditional monitoring of environmental flows and Owners. the benefits that have resulted from these partnerships. Stories in this edition of Reflections highlight several examples of the benefits and partnerships arising from this contribution.
    [Show full text]
  • Post Wildfire Indigenous Heritage Survey
    Perspectives Heritage Solutions Pty Ltd Joanna Freslov, Phillip Hughes, Russell Mullett December 2004 AAV Project No. 2833 Post Wildfire Indigenous Heritage Survey Volume 1: Background, Survey, Results and Recommended Management Options A Report to Parks Victoria, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria POST WILDFIRE INDIGENOUS SURVEY Perspectives Heritage Solutions Pty Ltd PO Box 713 • Hurstbridge VIC 3099 Phone (03) 9718 1554 • Fax (03) 9718 1829 Cover plate: View from Mount Sarah Track (view northeast) ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary During 2003 a large bushfire burnt over 1.2 million hectares of private and public land in the high country of northeast Victoria and Gippsland. The fire and suppression activities affected a range of values in the highlands including Aboriginal heritage values. The Public Land Ecological and Cultural Bushfire Recovery Program determined that the best way to address and enhance effective cultural heritage management was an increased understanding of the nature and extent of the impact of bushfires on Indigenous heritage values. The Public Land Ecological and Cultural Bushfire Recovery Program aimed to collect this information through a project which would investigate and assess the impact of the bushfire and fire suppression activities on Indigenous cultural heritage values on public land. This project would also include an assessment of the impact of the bushfire on non-material heritage values including spiritual places and historic attachments. The project would be managed jointly by Parks Victoria (PV) and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment therefore commissioned Perspectives Heritage Solutions Pty Ltd to conduct an archaeological survey for Aboriginal cultural heritage values within 12 study areas (later expanded to 14 areas) in the highlands and alpine regions of northeast Victoria and Gippsland (see Figure 1).
    [Show full text]