Murrin Bridge workshop

Lachlan Shire Council will be holding a public meeting/workshop in conjunction with the Murrin Bridge LALC to consult with the Murrin Bridge and Lake Cargelligo Aboriginal community.

Council is currently involved in two important projects regarding the Shire’s Aboriginal communities – the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Study and Aboriginal Protocol.

The meeting will be held at the old Murrin Bridge Clinic on Thursday January 28, 2021 at 10.30am. All members of the local Aboriginal community are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings in order for their voices to be heard.

The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Study has identified, assessed and recorded items and places of Aboriginal cultural significance in Lachlan Shire.

The study provides the Aboriginal community and wider Lachlan Shire community with an historical record of the local Aboriginal people.

This will enable recommendations to be made for the management and conservation of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage property and guide Council in developing sound management guidelines and policies.

These policies will then be implemented as part of Council’s planning policy and development assessment processes to assist in minimising any possible impact on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

The draft study is currently out for community consultation with hard copies available at Council offices, libraries and WCC. It is also available online at https://www.lachlan.nsw.gov.au/council/public-exhibition.aspx

If you are a local Aboriginal community member and would like to provide information about relevant heritage sites that you are aware of, this workshop is the ideal forum.

The other item to be discussed at the meeting is Lachlan Shire Council’s Aboriginal Protocol. This will guide the way Council consults and engages with our Aboriginal communities respectfully.

Observing a community’s cultural protocols demonstrates respect for the cultural traditions, history, diversity and the continued connection to Country of that community.

Council has been consulting with Aboriginal community members and is interested in hearing from any other members of the community (particularly Aboriginal people within our community) who would like to add their thoughts and ideas.

Council’s Aboriginal Protocol will cover:

·         Correctly referring to Aboriginal people;

·         Cultural information and sensitivities;

·         Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country;

·         Smoking ceremonies; and

·         Other topics as decided through the consultation period.

If you need any further information, please email [email protected] or call David Lornie on (02) 6895 1900.