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Building our Reserves |
New Life for Hay Land
John Macris
Chairperson of NPA's Reserves Committee
John Macris |
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Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Nari Nari people have undertaken a significant
conservation project 40 kilometres west of Hay. The lands include riparian
forests and woodlands as well as extensive flats with shrublands — known
colloquially as the Hay Plain. KRISTA HEY* reports… |
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Nari Nari Tribal Council
(NNTC) was granted The properties were identified by the community as an ideal holding for acquisition, due to the number of occupation and burial sites found upon it, and for the vast potential the properties held for the future of the Council. The successful acquisition of the land by the Nari Nari people has also removed the threats of land clearing and further degradation by over-grazing, and has provided opportunities for habitat restoration. It was fortunate that the previous owner showed an immediate interest in re-leasing both farms, so this gave NNTC time and space in which to decide upon the immediate priorities and potential uses for the land. |
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Nari Nari Tribal Council makes all decisions regarding the property at Board level, to ensure all the community is aware and involved. New leases are currently being negotiated, for the irrigated land only, meaning over 25,000 acres will be able to be set aside for conservation work.
The property has been severely overstocked in the past, and this is presenting the Council with a huge challenge. Future directions, which have been identified by NNTC members, include an eco-tourism venture, rural education facilities, juvenile justice farm stay camps for youth at risk, and a native nursery.
Nari Nari Tribal Council has also secured funding from Environment Australia to formulate a Conservation Management Plan, and for initial conservation works. This will include the installation of new fencing to separate the irrigated land and the wetlands. Separate funding for the establishment of a windbreak and tree corridor has been secured from the Department of Land and Water conservation under their Small Grants Scheme.
Two employees have started work on the properties, and will take part in a Pilot Training Program, funded by the ILC, to increase the skills base of Nari Nari Tribal Council. Murrumbidgee College of Agriculture (Yanco) and TAFE will be likely to play important educational roles in the future.
Krista Hey is the Co-ordinator of the NNTC Land Project. For further information contact Ian Woods, NNTC Chairperson, on 02 6993 2243
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Biodiversity snapshot of the Glenhope and Toogimbie land The ecosystems on the property are known to support a diversity of plant and animal species including several threatened species of birds. Over 100 species of birds have been recorded from the area and in excess of 15 species of reptiles have been recorded from the Hay Plain. Riverine Forest including the River Red Gum community at Glenhope is restricted to the southern bank of the Murrumbidgee River , occupying a relatively small part of the property. Riverine Forest is the habitat of a wide variety of fauna. Blackbox woodland is found in the north-western sector of the property and again occupies a relatively small part of the land. Blackbox trees are the dominant canopy species with a shrubby understorey of Nitre Goosefoot…they also provide an important fauna habitat providing shelter for bats and Brush-tailed Possums. |
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