’Water is the lifeblood’: Water trials mark milestone step in returning water to Wadawurrung Country

A series of water trials brought Wadawurrung wetlands to life as Wadawurrung people strive for water justice and self determination.

Wadawurrung woman and WTOAC water officer Claire Mennen at the rejuvenated Durdidwarrah Wetlands near Anakie. Picture: Brad Fleet

“I keep the fire burning because I think about future generations walking this same path and want to ensure easier access to water for our people,” Wadawurrung woman Claire Mennen said.

When a pump was turned on at the Durdidwarrah wetland, near Anakie, the scene came to life with the deafening sounds of frogs.

That’s according to Wadawurrung woman Claire Mennen, a Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) waterproject officer.

She said the water was returned as part of a trial to inform future watering.

The trial was more than a decade in the making as Wadawurrung people returned water to three locations on Wadawurrung country, the east and west branches of the Moorabool Yaluk (river) and the Durdidwarrah wetland.

WTOAC’s partners Barwon Water and Central Highlands Water supplied temporary transfers of water to the locations as part of the organisation’s Country Plan.

The plan now aims to see enough water in the river system that it flows without barriers and is clean enough to drink by 2030.

Wadawurrung woman and WTOAC water officer Claire Mennen said the Durdidwarrah Wetland came to life during a temporary water transfer trial. Picture: Brad Fleet

Ms Mennen said water was the lifeblood of everything: country, people, culture and spirit. “As Wadawurrung people, we are the caretakers of Wadawurrung Dja (country) and Yaluks (waterways) just as our ancestors were,” she said.

“We are collaborating with our partners to regain access to water, empowering us to self-determine and care for our Yaluks.

“These trials have demonstrated what is possible for achieving water justice for Wadawurrung country, people, culture and spirit which will benefit all that belong to our Yaluk and the wider community.”

The water was released to the three sites throughout February and March.

To the west branch of Moorabool Yaluk, 200 megalitres were released from Lal Lal reservoir to simulate what would happen after rainfall on a river without the large reservoir stoppage.

From Bostock Reservoir, 50 megalitres were made available to the Moorabool Yaluk east branch.

There were another 50 megalitres from the Upper Stony Creek Reservoir for the trial water delivery at Durdidwarrah wetland.

“In the east branch of the Moorabool Yaluk, we reconnected a part of the river that has been disconnected for more than 70 years due to the constriction of the Bostock Reservoir so it was really special for our elders in particular to see and hearwater returned to that part of the river,” Ms Mennen said.

Wadawurrung Woman and WTOAC Water Officer Claire Mennen with WTOAC Water Officer Jayden Wooley at the rejuvenated Durdidwarrah Wetlands near Anakie. Picture: Brad Fleet

WTOAC water project officer Jayden Woolley said the trial tested legal and logistic mechanisms to deliver water on country.

“We have seen and measured some great outcomes on country we can use to demonstrate the outcomes that can be achieved for Wadawurrung and the broader community,” he said.

“We saw frogs breeding and birds were returning to the site so it was quite exciting to see an area that was quite barrenspring back to life.

“It was about building the capacity and hands-on experience internally to make sure, once there are water rights held by Wadawurrung, there’s confidence internally to use that in the best self-determined way.”

Ms Mennen said while she had been in her role for two years and working on the project since August, a lot of work had happened for nearly 15 years to reach the pinnacle celebration of returning water to country.

“We want to acknowledge Wadawurrung people who walked before us in this space and those who walked in partnership with them,” she said.

Ms Mennen said the project was the beginning of the fire continuing to burn in the water space.

“This is only the start of Wadawurrung’s journey but a lot of people are now inspired and excited to continue this,” she said.

“We will keep striking while the iron is hot and keep moving forward in this space.”

WTOAC said it acknowledged several organisations including the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Corangamite CMA, Parks Victoria, Southern Rural Water, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, and Environmental Justice Australia for supporting the release of water on country.

Originally published as ’Water is the lifeblood’: Water trials mark milestone step in returning water to Wadawurrung Country