88,000 hectares of NSW wetland returned to indigenous owners

April 6, 2020

UNSW Sydney's Centre for Ecosystem Science, as part of the Gayini consortium, has applauded the return of almost 88,000 hectares of internationally significant Murrumbidgee floodplain to its Traditional Custodians.

Gayini, in southern NSW, is now legally back in the hands of the Nari Nari people, as it has been spiritually for 50,000 years, after more than 150 years of dispossession.

The Nature Conservancy leads the consortium which includes the Nari Nari Tribal Council, Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group and UNSW's Centre for Ecosystem Science.

Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW, welcomed the good news, stating “this is a wonderful outcome and an opportunity for UNSW. We have been working in this area for more than 30 years and we look forward to the great partnership that we have established with our partners in this consortium in the restoration of one of the most environmentally significant areas in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“It is an area where we will continue to work with the Nari Nari Traditional owners and our other partners on how best to manage such an important region not only for the wildlife but also for its communities.

“The Centre for Ecosystem Science sees this as an amazing place where we can do significant research on environmental flow management which supports the efforts of government and communities, and also provides opportunities for sustainable economic and social growth.”

Images: Eulimbah from above at Gayini (top); Jamie Woods, Gayini Land Manager, Nari Nari Tribal Council (middle); and Torry Plains homestead on Pollen Creek, Gayini (below). Images courtesy of Annette Ruzicka.

1st February 2020 - City of Geelong looks to expand wetlands access

11th July 2019 - Traditional Owners partnership delivers new way forward for Cape York’s national parks

2nd July 2019 - Traditional owners say heritage is ‘non-negotiable’ in Grampians rock-climbing dispute

15th October 2018 - Traditional owners to jointly manage six Victorian National Parks

27th December 2017 - North Stradbroke Island’s campgrounds returned to Indigenous owners

24th April 2017 - Fraser Island National Park renaming recognises Traditional Owners

23rd December 2016 - River Murray shacks submerged as floodwaters peak

1st October 2016 - Western Sydney organisations band together to protect the region’s wetlands

23rd September 2015 - Gulf of Carpentaria tourism boost from wetlands park

11th September 2015 - Local language names for Sydney Park wetlands

16th April 2014 - Traditional owners uncertain on tourism development around sacred sites and national parks

10th January 2013 - Warren’s wetlands biggest tourist drawcard

4th October 2012 - Historic Indigenous tourism initiative gets international recognition

4th November 2011 - UNSW reopens ‘finest university sporting facilities’

4th July 2011 - Native title win for North Stradbroke’s traditional owners

15th October 2010 - Indigenous Land Corporation buys Ayers Rock Resort

31st May 2010 - National park returned to traditional owners

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