MOKOAN – BANGARANG VOICE CONCERNS

Highly respected local Aboriginal Leader, Wally Cooper, has expressed his concern regarding the risk of vandalism and damage to aboriginal burial sites and artefacts in the event of Lake Mokoan being decommissioned.

Wally Cooper and many fellow members of the Bangarang Tribe met with the “Save Lake Mokoan Committee” and Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes this week.

Dr Sykes said, “Local aboriginals are very concerned that burial sites and artefacts currently covered by water will be exposed to wanton vandalism if the lake is drained.

“Many local people report finding aboriginal artefacts in the Lake Mokoan area and an official survey of potentially significant aboriginal sites is belatedly being carried out this week as part of the Mokoan wetland rehabilitation project.”

Dr Sykes continued, “The Aboriginal Heritage Bill which the Bracks Government intends to have debated in Parliament in 2006, will give the Bangarang people greater say on the future use of land which they traditionally occupied and this includes Lake Mokoan”.

Dr Sykes also noted, “Just this week there was a newspaper article about the NSW Government making water savings of 20 gigalitres (compared with claimed savings of approximately 40 gigalitres from Mokoan).

The $29 million project at Barren Box Swamp, north west of Griffith, has three components:

1. an active storage cell of 30 per cent of the total area;

2. an intermediate storage cell of 10 per cent of the area, which will capture extra water from heavier rainfalls; and

3. a wetland cell covering the remaining 60 per cent of the site.

Mr Ian Macdonald, NSW Minister for Natural Resources is quoted as saying, “By splitting the water storage capacities and reducing the total surface area of the active storage, losses from evaporation will be substantially reduced.” He continued, “It will also allow for the rehabilitation of more than half of the swamp area back to an ephemeral wetland and improve the reliability of water supply to the Wah Wah Irrigation District.

Dr Sykes said, “This is very similar to what local people believe could be appropriate for Lake Mokoan if in fact changes must be made and local aboriginal concerns can be addressed.

“Perhaps Mr Thwaites and the DSE could talk with the NSW project team and learn from what appears to be a common sense, ‘win win’, approach.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Bracks Government to investigate the NSW project as a possible model for the future of Lake Mokoan and also to ensure that aboriginal heritage concerns are addressed.”

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989