Barrier Daily Truth

Voices cry for water

Friday, 10th February, 2012

Dennis Williams

By Gayle Hogan 

Aboriginal people in the district have been assured that their input to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Draft Plan will be taken into account.

Neil Ward, the Director of Indigenous Engagement with the Authority, has been holding meetings in Broken Hill and Menindee this week to consult with Aboriginal people.

The local meetings are being held at the Centre for Community and will finish at lunchtime today.

Mr Ward said there was some initial doubt from the local Aboriginal community that their suggestions would not be acted upon. 

“A few of them have said ‘how do we know you are listening to us?’”

“Everything gets written down and with their permission it is all put into the submission process.”

Mr Ward said those taking part in the meetings have had their ideas printed and read back to them - and they have had the chance to edit their input accordingly.

“The people participating here are feeling like they are being listened to,” he said

“They’re really putting effort into getting their views into the process.”

Mr Ward said the general view from Aboriginal people at the meetings held so far was the need for a healthy river to allow people to go fishing and yabbying.

“(The consensus is) more water in the river and more consistently, like there used to be.”

That was certainly the view of local couple Dennis Williams and Sue Hall, who said they would like to see a healthier river system for people to enjoy and go camping.

 “(We want) more water to keep the river flowing.... there’s too much cotton,” said Mr Williams, who is a descendant of the Nyampa people.

“We never had cotton here in Australia before and Menindee always had plenty of water.”

Ms Hall said she hoped their participation wasn’t in vain.

“We just hope the government takes a good look at this and thinks about the people along the Darling,” Ms Hall said.

Broken Hill man Mark Sutton has been hired to help facilitate the consultation with Aboriginal people on the Draft Plan and is collecting feedback across the far west.

The meetings will be held in Wilcannia on April 9 to 13.