Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the Murray-Darling Basin The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) acknowledges and pays its respect to the Traditional Owners and their Nations of the Murray-Darling Basin. The contributions of earlier generations, including the Elders, who have fought for their rights in natural resource management are also valued and respected. The MDBA recognises and acknowledges that the Traditional Owners and their Nations in the Murray-Darling Basin have a deep cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. The MDBA understands the need for recognition of Traditional Owner knowledge and cultural values in natural resource management associated with the Basin. Further research is required to assist in understanding and providing for cultural flows. The MDBA supports the belief of the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations and the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations that cultural flows will provide beneficial outcomes for Traditional Owners. The approach of Traditional Owners to caring for the natural landscape, including water, can be expressed in the words of the late Ngarrindjeri elder Tom Trevorrow: “our traditional management plan was don’t be greedy, don’t take any more than you need and respect everything around you. That’s the management plan—it’s such a simple management plan, but so hard for people to carry out.” This traditional philosophy is widely held by Traditional Owners and respected and supported by the MDBA. Introduction The information in this document is provided by MDBA in good faith with the intention of assisting the development of water resource plans (WRPs) in a manner consistent with the Basin Plan. The information is provided ‘without prejudice’ and is not intended as an indication that a particular course of conduct will guarantee accreditation. The MDBA’s intention is to provide assistance in a way which does not fetter either the Authority’s assessment process or the Minister’s decision Purpose This Part 14 guideline aims to assist Basin State governments to develop WRPs in accordance with Basin Plan water resource plan requirements of Chapter 10, Part 14 – Aboriginal values and uses; in particular sections 10.52 – 10.55: s10.52 Objectives and outcomes based on Aboriginal values and uses
water resources, Aboriginal people often identify and raise concerns about ongoing connections with and access to water resources for social, spiritual and cultural purposes. This includes a strong emphasis on opportunities to transmit those connections to younger generations. Such access and connection is consistently identified as strongly linked with health, wellbeing and development outcomes for Aboriginal people, both at individual, community, and intergenerational levels. As such, ongoing access and connection is a key matter for decision makers to consider when aiming to fulfil strategic goals as well as obligations (including in international agreements) in relation to cultural values and uses of water resources by Aboriginal people. In some instances there could be divergent views about the level of protection, or a transitional/interim plan may be based on an undeveloped level of information. As part of the consultation with TOs, it may therefore be important to capture information about the existing level of protection and how effective it is in protecting a full range of Aboriginal values and uses. In some instances the existing level of protection might be considered as a “low base”, or of uneven benefit. It is important for the consultation process with TOs to facilitate the views and information about what a better level of protection might look like. The advice under section 10.52 (above) has further information about strengthening the protection of Aboriginal values and uses.