Water is vital in safeguarding cultural heritage, sustaining the traditions of our Indigenous custodians, and facilitating their journey with self-determination.
We're proud to have issued Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) two licences for cultural water use – one of 200 megalitres of groundwater in Buchan Munji and one of 500 megalitres from the Tambo River to the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners.
These licences will support the Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) to own and manage the water for spiritual, cultural, environmental, and social-economic initiatives.
“These two water licences are the result of extensive collaboration between Southern Rural Water and GLaWAC and will ensure better spiritual, cultural and environmental outcomes,” said GLaWAC CEO Daniel Miller.
These build on the previous allocations of a 2,000 megalitre water licence from the Mitchell River in Gippsland to GLaWAC in 2021 as well as the 2,500 megalitres of unallocated winter fill water from the Palawarra (Fitzroy River) system to Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in southwest Victoria for cultural purposes.
“Southern Rural Water is committed to supporting Traditional Owner groups with self-determination. We are very proud of our role to support these water allocations,” Southern Rural Water Managing Director Cameron FitzGerald.