Western Local Land Services has worked with landholders and stakeholders including the Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Lands Council to protect several Aboriginal campsites on “Mundadoo Station” and “Kimbriki Station” in the Western region.
The protected area included hearth sites (ground ovens) and stone tools.
The protection work was carried out on multiple sites on Ngemba tribal lands, 110 kilometres south of Brewarrina known locally as ‘The Marra’.
The protection works were particularly important to the Ngemba community and landholders of both properties as without intervention, further erosion was highly likely which would have put the sites at great risk of being damaged beyond recognition and unsalvageable.
Following a number of inspections, it was decided the best way to protect these sites was through groundcover regrowth and to replace soil to encourage the growth of a number of plant species.
Western Local Land Services Officer – Aboriginal Communities, Blackie Gordon was pleased with the outcome of the project.
“I was so passionate about this project getting started and working alongside local Aboriginal elders and site knowledge holders to build relationships with landholders across the Western region,” Mr Gordon said.
“Prior to this project commencing we carried out Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys to ensure no Aboriginal sites would be impacted. The protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage is something Western Local Land Services has a strong interest in.”
The properties involved in this project are the first of many planned to be surveyed by Western Local Land Services.
Landholders and community members that know of an Aboriginal or historical site that they would be interested in protecting, should contact their nearest Western Local Land Services Office on 1300 795 299.
This project is supported by Western Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Source: Western Local Land Services
Featured Image: Edward Gordon and Cecil Smith