Issue 4: Working collaboratively & culturally connected Once the issues of accessing rural lands and managing the land use impacts that are occurring on and between them are understood (refer to Issues 1 – 3 of this document), it is important to recognise the importance of collaboration in the context of rural lands. Many of the activities undertaken on rural lands are part of a larger network of industry and environment. Many of the issues and opportunities are not bound by the Clarence Valley’s local government boundaries, and as such there are a range of State Government, industry and research interests that need to be considered by individual landholders. Working collaboratively within these contexts will assist in achieving long-term outcomes for rural lands and
These matters are also considered within the context of this issue.
4.1
Aboriginal and traditional practices
Central to all rural lands is its connection to the Aboriginal peoples of the region. Consistent with Council’s statement of reconciliation, there is an ongoing effort to integrate cultural understanding to the longterm strategies and actions of Council. In context of recent natural disasters, Council has been actively involved in identifying areas of Aboriginal significance within the rural land context (being undertaken in associated with the RFS). Council is also undertaking cultural mapping projects, including:
landholders.
o
Yaegl Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Mapping Project, and
Similarly, there are strong ties between rural lands and the Aboriginal
o
a proposed partnership project with the Native Title Holders and Traditional Custodians to conduct a cultural mapping
peoples of the area who have an innate understanding of the Clarence
project on Gumbaynggirr country47.
Valley and the importance of land management from a traditional and custodian perspective. Acknowledging and utilising this understanding will provide further long-term benefits to the land and its importance to Aboriginal people. Working collaboratively is also important for broader rural community building in the context of resilience. This includes immediate responses to natural disasters, but also about long-term informal rural networks that may be established by a closer connection and understanding of rural issues.
Outcomes of these projects will better recognise and secure important cultural sites and will become more pivotal to future activities into the future. Council, as well as a range of other government agencies, is also working with Aboriginal communities to understand and integrate opportunities for their knowledge of land management to better inform existing practices. This process is recognised in the outcomes of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements which published its outcomes in October 2020. Exploring these
47
Refer to Council’s 2021/2022 Operational Plan
Clarence Valley Council Rural Lands Strategy – Background Paper
Page | 56
