The Culgoa and Bokhara Rivers head waters are the Condamine and Balonne rivers which have their beginning around Warwick in Southeast Queensland and runs into the Darling River just northeast of Bourke in NSW.
The Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) represent Sovereign First Nations of the Northern Murray Darling Basin. It was established in 2012 so that First Nations can have input into the Murray Darling Basin Plan and to represent First Nations of the Northern Basin on a Federal, State and Regional level on water and other issues.
The Murrawarri Nation is a member of NBAN and is one of 22 Sovereign First Nations.
The Murrawarri Nations is 85,000 square Kilometres straddling the NSW and Qld Boarder in the western and southwestern part of both those States. The heart of Murrawarri country is Weilmoringle on the Culgoa River, The eastern Boundary of the Murrawarri Nation is the Bokhara River where the township of Goodooga is situated and also have a very significant Murrawarri population. These two communities have been effected by the development up stream over the past 30 years.
Members of the Murrawarri community has observed changes in the rivers over the past 30 years which included lower and non-existent river flows, longer periods between flows, changes in water quality and loss of fish species etc.
The Northern basin Aboriginal Nations is involved in the Cultural Flows Research Project and one of the trial site for component 4 was Gooroman Swamp at Weilmoringle on the Culgoa River. In this presentation I will present some of the findings of that research.
This presentation will cover what the Murrawarri have observed over the years, Some Murrawarri Cultural Values, Our responsibilities under Law and development threatens these value. It will also cover how the Northern basin review is contributing to these threats.