1. Science and Management Projects carried out in the LEB

  • Allow transfer of information across the Basin
  • Share outcomes and learnings
  • Increase the communication of progress and outcomes
  • lists of project work to be published, distributed and updated

2. Extractive Industries and Groundwater (esp. Coal Seam Gas)

  • Fully funded Rivers Assessment (LEBRA), including:
    − groundwater
    − consultation and participation of communities, Traditional Owners
  • Reliable, updated information system with public access
  • High level of recognition of risks associated with extractive industry

3. Traditional Ecological Knowledge

  • Share and teach Traditional Ecological Knowledge using new technology and on-country, on-ground activities
  • Respecting and honouring → consultation/networking
  • LEB or National policy on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Water Research

4. National Centre for Aboriginal Water Research

  • Link western science to Traditional Ecological Knowledge
  • Integrate into national policy agenda to ensure policy outcomes for all
  • Consider groundwater and surface water as a connected resource
  • Provide credible evidence to support/raise profile of cultural knowledge to inform/guide national and state and territory policy
  • Aboriginal water allocations — to provide water for cultural, social, economic purposes determined by Aboriginal people

5. Cultural water and land management plan, LEB Authority — Sustaining the effort

  • Co-management of LEB – e.g. through a unified management authority for the Basin – support current LEB Ministerial Forum initiative
  • Dual leadership/management by Aboriginal people and community — including a power of veto over unwanted development
  • Tied to an Action Plan:
    • be outcome oriented
    • bring solutions to problems

6. Wild Rivers Declaration

  • The LEB Aboriginal Forum calls on the Queensland Government to:
    • Declare the Cooper Creek, Georgina and Diamantina Rivers as Wild River Areas under the Wild Rivers Act.
    • Commit resources for Traditional Owner Rangers in the three river basins under its policy to deliver 100 Indigenous Wild River Rangers; starting with 5 rangers (including ranger coordinators) for each of the three river basins – 15 Indigenous rangers in total.
    • Support and resource an Aboriginal organisation which reflects their governance structure to oversee the Wild Rivers Rangers program within the Cooper Creek, Georgina and Diamantina Rivers for the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of these water systems.
    • Incorporate water allocations under each Wild River declaration for Aboriginal water allocation for Traditional Owners to decide its use.
    • Maintain the Aboriginal heritage and cultural landscapes of the three Wild River areas, by supporting management in accordance with the Aboriginal traditions and customs for the areas. (Joint Management)
    • Exclude coal seam gas and shale gas projects, along with other mining and resource extraction, from the High Preservation Areas and Special Floodplain Management areas; and regulate coal seam gas and shale gas activities in the Preservation Areas.
    • Ensure sustainable pastoral activity in the Wild River areas by committing Land Protection Officers to monitor and restrict overstocking.
    • Call on the South Australian/New South Wales/Northern Territory Governments to support the protection of the LEB region with a commitment to a Wild River type legislation.
%d bloggers like this: