Sacred River Forests Face Destruction for Water Works

Nyah-Vinifera Park, a significant cultural space near Swan Hill, faces destruction from proposed water infrastructure projects by the Allan government. These works include regulators, containment banks, and pipes, aimed at restoring eight floodplain sites along the Lower Murray Darling system and reducing water flow under the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The project, costing $100.5 million alongside two others at Nyah and Hattah Lakes North, will clear up to 80 large trees and 15 hectares of smaller trees.

Traditional owners, represented by Uncle Vince Kirby, express outrage over what they describe as 'absolute disrespect' from authorities, citing a lack of consultation. They argue that the project's promotional materials claim respect for Aboriginal culture, yet its construction will desecrate sacred ancestral grounds, including fish traps and ceremonial sites. The government maintains the works are essential for ecosystem health and future water security, especially in a drier climate.

This initiative is part of Victoria's commitment to the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism, designed to achieve environmental outcomes with less water. However, critics like campaigner Dr. Jacquie Kelly and Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze argue that alternative methods exist to increase water flows without compromising habitats. They highlight the historical importance of annual flooding for the red gum forest, which is now rare, leading to overgrown saplings choking waterways, a problem the new structures may exacerbate in some areas while starving others.