158R_Integrating Aboriginal cultural values into water planning: A case study from New South Wales, Australia (research summary)

Are you interested in Aboriginal value integration into water planning? Summary of the article titled Integrating Aboriginal cultural values into water planning: a case study from New South Wales, Australia from 2019 by Bradley J. Moggridge, Lyndal Betterridge, and Ross M. Thompson, published in the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how Aboriginal cultural values can enhance water management. This article investigates New South Wales’ government’s Aboriginal Water Initiative and provides insights into engagement and consultation. As the most important things, I would like to highlight 3 aspects: Water management, its terminology, administrative structures and implementation, is complex, and this is not unique to Australia. Indigenous and Aboriginal involvement in water management can establish more culturally responsive and sustainable practices and trust. The AWI experience provides a set of approaches, experiences, protocols and principles for this engagement that can inform future water management initiatives. Find the article through this link. Abstract: Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth and has an acute need to manage its water resources effectively. Australian Aboriginal peoples have a profound knowledge of surface water and groundwater which has allowed them to thrive for thousands of generations even in the most arid parts of the landscape. Aboriginal peoples place a high priority on protecting water, but the challenge is to ensure that their values are integrated into water planning. The Australian New South Wales (NSW) government’s Aboriginal Water Initiative (AWI) (2012-2017) sought to include Aboriginal cultural and spiritual values in water management. The AWI operated under the NSW Government’s Water Management Act 2000, which seeks to protect the cultural and spiritual values of water and the benefits to flow to Aboriginal peoples. Speaking from the perspective of the previous leader of the AWI, this article will reflect on its inception and structure, particularly focussing on approaches of engagement and consultation. These were highly structured and included a focus on cultural training and protocols and benefited from having Aboriginal staff involved. While ultimately discontinued in 2017, a reflection on the AWI provides useful insights into how engagement and consultation can be operationalised in water management and policy. Connecting episodes you might be interested in: No.159 - Interview with Michael Browne about Aboriginals in Australia No.171 - Interview with Nicole Garofano about circular economy and its roots in Aboriginal values You can find the transcript through ⁠⁠this link⁠⁠. What wast the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter ⁠⁠@WTF4Cities⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠wtf4cities.com⁠⁠ website where the ⁠⁠shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠are also available. I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in. Music by ⁠⁠Lesfm ⁠⁠from ⁠⁠Pixabay