Episode 9

Urban billabong restoration benefits from Traditional Owner involvement and flooding in the Birrarung (Yarra River) with Sarah Gaskill

In this episode we speak with Melbourne Water’s Sarah Gaskill about Urban Billabong restoration benefits from Traditional owner involvement and flooding in the Birrarung (Yarra River). Sarah is a wausie, a welsh aussie, with almost 30 years’ experience in natural resource management having worked in both the UK and Australia.

 

Episode 8

How can Traditional knowledge influence water management for the greater protection of the water landscape with Bradley Moggridge

In this episode we are privileged to get to know and speak to one of the RBMS cultural mentors, Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge, a proud Murri man from the Kamilaroi nation and researcher in Indigenous water science from the University of Canberra on How can Traditional knowledge influence water management for the great protection of the water landscapes.

 

Episode 7

Water is the new Gold – the future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River

Last year I had the privilege to speak with Dr Anne Poelina about the Martuwarra Fitzroy River, it’s future with looming water resource development, the need for a collective governance model and the traditional owner established Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council (MFRC) who are advocating for a collaborative approach and an inclusive water governance model and catchment management plan to maintain the spiritual, cultural and environmental health of the catchment.

 

Episode 6

Detecting Nature’s Fingerprint using eDNA with Helen Barclay

In today’s episode we speak to EnviroDNA’s Managing Director – Helen Barclay. EnviroDNA works with organisations to transform how they gather data on wildlife and biodiversity, so they can make improved environmental management decisions. Using eDNA services, their clients are detecting native and invasive species with greater ease and sensitivity, as well as generating broad scale biodiversity data that was not previously possible. eDNA has also proven to be an innovative citizen science tool, with designed eDNA sampling methods simple enough for the non-expert to implement, meaning community members can undertake it themselves.

 

Episode 5

An Eel good story – tracking eels on the journey of a lifetime with Wayne Koster

In today’s episode we speak to Wayne Koster from the Arthur Rylah Institute about tracking two species of anguillid eels found in Victoria using innovative technology and patience. From the arduous fieldwork required to tag an eel to the information uncovered throughout the incredible freshwater to marine journey up to 3,000km. We discuss their importance for Victoria’s biodiversity, commercial and recreational fisheries and significant cultural values to Traditional Owners.

 

Episode 4

An update on the Bushfire recovery – how are our aquatic species faring with Jarod Lyon (ARI)

In today’s episode, we catch up with Jarod Lyon from the Arthur Rylah Institute for environmental research to look at how aquatic species are faring after the 2019/20 bushfires, the impacts of data limitations on species management, protection and recovery; and learn about the ins and outs of aquatic rescues and what’s next as we enter phase 2 of the bushfire recovery actions.

Further Resources

Bushfire response 2020 – aquatic rescues (ari.vic.gov.au)

Impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires on aquatic environments (arcgis.com)

Limited understanding of bushfire impacts on Australian invertebrates – Saunders – – Insect Conservation and Diversity – Wiley Online Library

DSB.501.001.0101.pdf (royalcommission.gov.au)

Mortality events resulting from Australia’s catastrophic fires threaten aquatic biota – Silva – 2020 – Global Change Biology – Wiley Online Library

 

Episode 3

What partnerships, data and passion can teach us about protecting and restoring wetlands

In this episode with Keith Ward, a senior wetland ecologist with over 30 years of experience working within the RAMSAR listed Barmah National Park, we take a look at some of the factors around wetland biodiversity and decline, the importance and need for monitoring, research and data and the intricacies of managing an ecosystem with multiple interested parties.

Further Resources

GBCMA (2013) Barmah-Millewa Research Conference – A conference held over 2 days that recorded each presentation from various researchers undertaking research and monitoring projects at Barmah-Millewa Forest.

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton. Hale, J. and Butcher, R. (2011) Ecological Character Description for the Barmah Forest Ramsar Site.

Report to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra (DSEWPaC).MDBA (2021) Barmah and Millewa floodplain monitoring reports.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. Parks Victoria (2020) Strategic Action Plan: Protection of Floodplain Marshes in Barmah National Park and Barmah Forest Ramsar Site.

Parks Victoria, VEWH (2021) Barmah Forest.

VEWH, Yorta Yorta Traditional Owner Land Management Board (YYTOLMB) (2020) Joint Management Plan for Barmah Forest.

 

Episode 2

Part 2 – Water law, traditional owner knowledge and rights with Dr Emma Carmody

In Part 2 of the Water law and traditional owner knowledge and rights episode, we catch up with Dr Emma Carmody, the Managing Lawyer of the Freshwater Program (Australia-Pacific) from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO).

Further Resources

Treaty Research Paper – 2019 – Sonia Cooper – 1571958310-Final-Treaty-Paper-11-July-2019-SCooper.pdf (yynac.com.au)

Hartwig, L.D et al 2020 – Trends in Aboriginal water ownership in New South Wales, Australia: The continuities between colonial and neoliberal forms of dispossession.

Godden, L.C. et al 2020 Online Indigenous water rights and water law reforms in Australia — Monash University

Hartwig, L.D et al 2021 – Online- Water colonialism and Indigenous water justice in south-eastern Australia

Treaty in Victoria

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have long called for treaty but this call has gone unanswered. Until now.

 

Part 1 – Water law, traditional owner knowledge and rights with Sonia Cooper by Freshwater Connections

In this 2 part episode we explore water law and traditional owner knowledge and rights with Sonia Cooper from the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Dr Emma Carmody from the Environmental Defenders Office. In Part 1, Sonia and I yarn about her time on country as a Yorta Yorta woman and role as a representative for Yorta Yorta for the Living Murray. We discuss and look at First Nation water values, recognition and empowerment, collaboration and communication in water and how first nations such as Yorta Yorta might feel or see themselves operating within a water market and water policy frameworks to access water and determine its use for purposes including restoring and protecting cultural practices and healing country.

 

Episode 1

Talking social science in catchment management with Dr Siwan Lovett

In the first episode we discuss the social science perspective of working in catchment management with Dr Siwan Lovett from the Australian River Restoration Centre (ARRC). We dive into Siwan’s early beginnings with a phenomenal career integrating social and environmental sciences including how the ARRC started, to the Waterway Management Twinning Program, how to effect change and Taking in the Good as provided during her Keynote speech at the RBMS River Fest.