DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) has released its first Environmental Water Plan for Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country) in central Victoria, marking an important milestone in Dja Dja Wurrung leadership in environmental water management.
The plan sets out DJAARA’s position on how environmental water should be used on Djandak each year. It brings together Dja Dja Wurrung knowledge, values and recommendations alongside western science and monitoring to guide environmental water planning and delivery on Country. The plan is DJAARA-led and owned and is intended to work alongside existing Commonwealth and Victorian environmental water planning processes.
The DJAARA Environmental Water Plan provides a framework for incorporating Dja Dja Wurrung cultural knowledge, values and aspirations into environmental water management, and supports greater Dja Dja Wurrung leadership in decisions about waterways across Djandak.
The plan draws on extensive research and identification of cultural values undertaken by DJAARA’s specialist water management advisory group Kapa Gatjin. Kapa Gatjin means “to know water” in Djali (Dja Dja Wurrung language). The plan also builds on DJAARA’s broader strategies and plans for caring for Country and water.
The DJAARA Environmental Water Plan is a key outcome of the three-year partnership established between the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and DJAARA in 2025, supporting Dja Dja Wurrung participation and leadership in environmental water planning, monitoring and delivery on Djandak.
Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Cassandra Lewis said the DJAARA Environmental Water Plan will help environmental water managers to integrate Dja Dja Wurrung knowledge and values into environmental water planning.
“For many years Dja Dja Wurrung People have been asked for their perspective on environmental water and how it may support cultural values. This plan provides an easy way for others to learn and appreciate Dja Dja Wurrung perspectives,” Ms Lewis said.
“Dja Dja Wurrung People continue to have a cultural responsibility to care for Dja Dja Wurrung Country, including its waterways. It’s important for us to be involved in decisions about water so we can fulfil our cultural responsibilities.
“Decisions about environmental water that are informed by both traditional and Western scientific knowledge systems will lead to better outcomes for waterways and Country,” Ms Lewis said.
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Simon Banks said the plan demonstrates the value of partnerships that support First Nations leadership in environmental water management.
“We are proud to support DJAARA through our partnership and to see this significant milestone achieved,” Dr Banks said
“Working together helps ensure environmental water management delivers outcomes that are important for waterways, First Nations peoples and communities.”
The Environmental Water Plan will help inform future environmental watering decisions and contribute to healthier, more resilient waterways across Djandak for generations to come.
Djandak covers waterways such as the Yaluk (Campaspe River), Bulatjal Yaluk (Loddon River) and Dindilong Yaluk (Coliban River).
