Earlier this week the Fyansford Common came alive with a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and Wadawurrung storytelling, as the Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut – Place of many stories project and masterplan development was launched.
Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut is an initiative to increase the visitor experience of the unique environmental, cultural, and recreational values of the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers and is one of the actions supported by the Victorian Government through the Rivers of the Barwon (Barre Warre Yulluk) Action Plan.
The project encompasses an extensive corridor of river frontage on Wadawurrung Country, including the internationally recognised Lake Connewarre wetlands and the spectacular Barwon River estuary. Kitjarra- dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut is the Wadawurrung name for the project previously known as the Barwon River Parklands.
The natural assets of project area and its ongoing enjoyment are increasingly under threat from rapid growth in population, tourism pressures and changes in environmental conditions. Alongside these threats, fragmented management across the Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut complicates and delays efforts of responsible bodies to implement improvements to visitor experience, connectivity and natural amenity.
The Masterplan is an opportunity to increase amenity and public access to the unique environmental, cultural and recreational values along this important river corridor.
The project is a partnership between the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Corangamite CMA, along with a number of state government agencies and local governments.
The Victorian Government provided $1.65 million in funding for the development and partial implementation of the masterplan.
