Cultural heritage lake sites now restored

Berri Barmera Council, together with River Murray Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC), Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (AAR) and Green Industries SA (GISA), saw the remediation of several sites which were affected by emergency management provisions during the 2022/23 River Murray flood.

Berri Barmera Council Mayor Ella Winnall welcomed the restoration of the Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

“Council strongly advocated for these works, and it is pleasing to see the sites now restored in a way that respects and protects their Aboriginal cultural heritage significance,” she said.

“The effort by all involved parties to ensure these sites were restored in a sensitive and culturally-appropriate way is commendable.”

During the 2022/23 River Murray flood, hundreds of sandbags were imported to protect cultural heritage sites around the Lake Bonney foreshore under declared emergency management provisions.

Unfortunately, the supplied sandbags and their contents were made with unsuitable materials and were required to be carefully removed to protect the underlying cultural heritage sites.

In addition to the sandbag removal, additional sand was brought in to add further protection to the sites, with the project completely funded by GISA.

River Murray Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) board director and senior cultural heritage officer Philip ‘Willow’ Johnson said he was “pleased” with the restoration efforts.

“I’d like to think our ancestors will be looking own and smiling on us knowing these sites have been restored,” he said.

“They are very important, significant sites.”

North Lake is now fully accessible, with remediation of campsites 2 and 4 and the walking trail to commence in coming months.

The remediation of the campsites and walking trail is part of the State Government’s Community and Recreational Asset Restoration Program.