We are currently prioritising growing relationships with organisations that are committed to supporting the aspirations of the Wurundjeri community. These relationships focus on building our capacity in areas identified as a priority by us. Relationships with partnering organisations may involve the seconding of skilled staff at our premises, or short-term projects where skilled staff regularly attend our offices to provide support identified as being of genuine value to the development of our organisation. If your organisation is interested in discussing such a relationship with us, please fill out your organisations’ details below along with a brief message.
CASE STUDY – MERRI CREEK
In 2010 Melbourne Water commissioned our Organisation to undertake a community values assessment of Merri Creek. The creek, measuring approximately 70 km in length, traverses rural, semi-rural and urbanised landscapes and forms part of Wurundjeri’s Traditional Country. Stretching from its headwaters at Wallan to its confluence at the Birrarung (Yarra River), the name of the creek is derived from the Woi-wurrung language phrase ‘Merri Merri’ which means ‘very rocky’; referring to the volcanic rock formations found along the extent of the creek.
The objective of the study was to research and document Wurundjeri’s cultural values associated with the Merri Creek in order to; (1) create a greater understanding of these values at Melbourne Water and (2) to assist Melbourne Water in the protection and enhancement of these values. A priority of this project was to develop a methodology for researching and recording the Wurundjeri community values and aspirations for the Merri Creek study area that could be applied to other waterways in the future.
This project has emerged from a developing partnership between Melbourne Water and the Wurundjeri community. The general objectives of the Merri Creek Cultural Values Project were to:
- Broaden concepts of what constitutes Aboriginal cultural heritage, drawing on the views of the Wurundjeri community.
- Outline the relevance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and its usefulness in the maintenance of the cultural and natural resources along Merri Creek;
- Provide recommendations where TEK can be applied in the management of Merri Creek;
- Celebrate the Wurundjeri peoples’ cultural values through information dissemination to the wider community by way of a report;
- Facilitate the Wurundjeri community in researching the Merri Creek and its tributaries.
Some of the benefits of the Merri Creek Project were:
- Improved conservation outcomes utilising TEK;
- The enhanced ability of Melbourne Water to manage Wurundjeri cultural heritage located along Merri Creek and other waterways into the future;
- Assist in strategic planning and legislative compliance for the purpose of preserving Melbourne’s waterways and catchments;
- Further develop skills in articulating and protecting the broader cultural values of landscapes within Wurundjeri Country;
- Support the work being undertaken by Melbourne Water along the Merri Creek to manage its ecological and cultural values;
- Celebrate the Wurundjeri peoples’ cultural values through information dissemination to the wider community by way of a report;
- Facilitate the Wurundjeri community in researching the Merri Creek and its tributaries.
