River Murray Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) community members are undertaking cultural heritage monitoring at two significant infrastructure projects in the Riverland.Trained cultural heritage officers have been involved with the Riverine Recovery Project (RRP) and the South Australian Riverland Floodplains Integrated Infrastructure Program (SARFIIP).RMMAC heritage officers are working side by side with construction workers to manage and protect cultural heritage. Monitors provide direct advice to contractors to avoid impacts on cultural heritage drawing on the knowledge of community members to protect heritage.“The Project has been really significant for our community” said RMMAC Chairperson Sheryl Johnson.“Being involved in the projects has allowed Aboriginal community members in the Riverland region to gain valuable training and work experience, while looking out for our country and culture” she said.The projects involve construction of environmental regulators, blocking banks and other infrastructure to manage water flows and restore the health of the floodplains of the River Murray within South Australia.The SARFIIP aims to improve the watering and management of key River Murray floodplains in South Australia’s Riverland. Specifically, more efficient watering of the Pike and Katarapko floodplains will help protect and restore key environmental and cultural assets.Private construction corporation Fulton Hogan is contracted to undertake much of the infrastructure work for these projects. The projects are funded by the Commonwealth Government and managed by the Department for Environment and Water in partnership with SA Water.SA Native Title Services has been supporting RMMAC’s involvement in the project in several ways including through providing human resources, employment and payroll services.
By Lucy Kingston
SANTS acknowledges that the land on which our office is based is the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and we respect their spiritual and cultural relationship with their country.
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