Aboriginal stakeholders, landholders and Western Local Land Services have worked together to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage values in the Euabalong area prior to undertaking substantial weed control works.
The weed control works, which were primarily to remove African boxthorn, mesquite and cactus, came about through the 2021-22 Western Weed Management Program which is coordinated by Western Local Land Services.
As part of the program and prior to any on-ground works commencing, participating landholders and Western Local Land Services work with local Aboriginal stakeholders to undertake assessments for Aboriginal cultural heritage and record all known sites.
This work is helping to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage values and ensure that sites are not disturbed and are protected into the future.
“Ensuring we do not harm any Aboriginal cultural heritage values and are actually protecting heritage is an extremely important part of this program,” Senior Land Services Officer, Andrea Cashmere said.
“While this is fundamentally a weed control program, the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage values is part of good land management practice. Participating landholders gain a better understanding of Aboriginal heritage on their properties any why it’s important to protect it.
“Surveying sites allows for knowledge to be shared amongst community and gets community working together on Country which is really important for culture.”
Through the 2021-22 Western Weed Management Program, 28 landholders were contracted to carry out control works to improve and sustain the condition of close to 25,000 hectares of natural resources through the control of invasive for African boxthorn, mesquite and cactus.
With African Boxthorn out competing the native understory and altering the structure of the vegetation community, as well as being a haven for pest animals such as foxes and rabbits, the control works were carried out in targeted areas to help protect Plains-wanderer habitat and Coolibah Black-Box Threatened Ecological Communities.
Landholders interested in participating in the 2022-23 Western Weed Management Program are encouraged to contact Ms Cashmere via andrea.cashmere@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0417 050 138.
This program is supported by Western Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government.
A Local Lands Services Press Release.