Walking Country Together Builds Understanding

Representatives from the Murray Darling Basin Authority recently spent two days on Ngarabal Country with Severn River, Ngarabal and Kwiambal Aboriginal Corporation (SRNKAC), meeting with First Nations community members, local landholders and visiting waterways across the upper catchments.

The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the health of Country, water quality, groundwater and surface water interactions, riparian management and the legacy impacts of historic mining. Rather than relying solely on reports and presentations, many of these conversations took place beside the waterways themselves, where observations could be shared in the places where people live, work and care for Country.

One of the strengths of the visit was the opportunity to bring together different perspectives. Community discussions, local knowledge and firsthand observations all contributed to a broader understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing this part of the Murray Darling Basin.

Uncle Theo Wright said the opportunity to spend time together on Country was important.

“It’s good to have people come out and see Country for themselves. You can talk about these things all day, but it’s different when you’re standing beside the river and looking at it together.”

Following the visit, one community member reflected that they had been waiting more than twenty years for an opportunity like this. For SRNKAC, it was a reminder that while organisations such as the Murray Darling Basin Authority necessarily work across the Basin at a broad scale, time spent with communities and on Country can make a real difference.

SRNKAC also acknowledged the way the MDBA team approached the visit, taking the time to listen, ask questions and engage openly throughout the two days.

The Corporation looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Murray Darling Basin Authority and other agencies in support of healthy waterways, resilient communities and evidence-based decision making.