Darumbal traditional custodians said the signing of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Queensland government for the state’s largest water infrastructure project is a positive first step.
Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation (DPAC) is a registered Native Title body that has been trying to have a say on the Rookwood Weir Project for 10 years.
DPAC said its only been in the past year of negotiations that their voices have been heard.
The traditional custodians of Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast regions want to ensure the protection of water along the Fitzroy River be central to the weir’s development.
"The protection of water, which is a significant cultural value of ours, is the most important and significant outcome here with this signing," said Darumbal traditional custodian and DPAC Director Malcolm Mann.
"It’s our responsibility as Darumbal people to inform the government and Sunwater of the importance of the water, the life in the water and our ancestral connection to the water.
"It is their responsibility to listen.
"In making sure that point of view is heard we also understand the value the water offers the wider community and the different sectors and industries that will benefit from its use."
Local Indigenous land management organisation Tunuba will assist the project’s construction by providing environmental management support, such as animal and cultural surveys.
The signing of this agreement was an important first step in honouring Darumbal's traditional custodians.
Mr Mann says the traditional custodians will also monitor the levels in the waterway.
The water is in our blood, we’ve got to have water.
"With a project of this size, we initially had concerns around flow or the lack of flow – particularly during prolonged dry periods that we experience in this part of the world," said Mann.
"It was important for us to ensure we were engaged in the process, a central part of the journey of its construction so we can ensure constant flows are maintained.
"That flow is really key to our belief systems around Songlines, while there are also various values associated, not just in the water itself, but anything that supports the water – the riverbank, medicines and everything connected to it which includes people."
Those views were echoed by Darumbal Elder and DPAC Chairman, Uncle George James.
"We are relieved now we know the water will be stored, we know the river will flow and the people operating the weir, we know that they will look after whatever is in the weir," said Uncle George.
"The water is in our blood, we’ve got to have water."
As part of the negotiations, Darumbal will receive a 500 megalitre allocation and job opportunities during and after the project.
With the Indigenous Land Use Agreement now signed, the agreement will be soon lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal for registration.
Part of the $367.2 million that has been spent on the weir project will be invested into revitalising and safe-keeping Darumbal language,.
Darumbal language teachers will be given the opportunity to pass on knowledge as a means of paid work.
Queensland Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, said the company building the weir, Sunwater, will continue to work closely with the Darumbal people throughout construction and beyond.
"These things don't happen overnight. This has been a long journey," he said.
"There's a lot of responsibility for the state government and for Sunwater to make sure that we get these things right."
