We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and we show our respect for Elders past, present and emerging through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to our work, seeking to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally and economically.
About Regional Aboriginal Water Committees
Water is sacred to Aboriginal peoples. We know from years of yarns with Elders and other stakeholders that they need to have more of a say in guiding water planning, so their rights and cultural values are considered at a local level.
The Committees are made up of Aboriginal peoples.
There are 12 Committees across the state.
The Committees meet up to 4 times a year in their region.
The purpose of the Committees is to give greater recognition to Aboriginal water rights and interests. This ensures Aboriginal peoples can contribute to water management.
They will operate until 30 June 2025.
Committee members
12 committees cover three regions:
| Border Rivers | Gwydir | Far North Coast |
|---|---|---|
| Leroy Connors Chris McGrady Elaine Binge Geraldine Livermore Katherine Davis Leo Francis Walker Madeline McGrady Malcolm Talbot Robyn Brown Uncle Fred McGrady | Liam Williams Alexander Munro Anthony Munro Estella Ellis Ian Brown Joshua Williams Kylie Saunders Leo Saunders Maria Williams Melinda Sams Nerida Saunders Ruth Williams (Isabel) | Allan Williams Afzal Khan Belinda Gomes Charmaine Roberts Gail Bolt Lillian Khan Nathaniel "Charlie" Ord Warren Williams Annette Kelly Kimberly Kay |
| Hunter | Namoi | North Coast |
| Leonard Anderson Elizabeth McEntyre John Joseph Clark Kathleen Gifford Leslie Atkinson Joy Manning Paul Manning | Sharon Porter Alfred Priestley Allan Tighe Christine Porter Garry Trindall Lee-Ann Pearl Darvern Peter White Carl Mason | Dianne Chapman Ferlin "Lee" Laurie Patricia Laurie Shane Eamens William "Billy" Walker Tracey Dodds Nicole Cook |
| Macquarie/Castlereagh | North-western |
|---|---|
| Aaron Nixon-Dahlstrom Sidney Chatfield Raymond Fazldeen David Peachey Valda Hampton Irene Peachey Josie Windsor Gloria Fernando Diane Stewart Phillip Wright Eric Fernando | Kevin Knight Edward Gordon Wayne Gordon Lyiata Ballangarry Robert Knight William 'Badger' Bates David Doyle Barbara Quayle Luke Driscoll Owen Whyman Warren Clarke Tannya Quayle |
| Lachlan | Murray | Murrumbidgee |
|---|---|---|
| Judith Bartholomew Isabel Goolagong Jenny Munro Bonnie Merritt Beryl Powell Monicque Merritt Vanessa Richards Maryanne Richards Elvina Kelly Rocky Gibert | Malcolm Edward King Arthur Kirby Rhonda O'Donnell Drew Fincher | Ian Woods Jamie Woods Olivia Williams Suzanne 'Sue' Bulger Ethan Murphy Alice Amy Williams Dorothy Whyman Tara Dixon Chris Simpson Bernie Simpson Dion Wait |
| South Coast/Sydney | ||
| Adell Hyslop Roslyn Carriage Nathan lygon Natalie Bateman Lynette Goodwin Deidre Martin |
The Committees:
- empower Aboriginal peoples, communities and stakeholders to participate in water programs
- build new relationships across water
- ensure Aboriginal rights and values are considered in water planning, programs and projects
- enable exchange of water knowledge in regional communities
- assist department staff to identify key stakeholders from local Aboriginal communities to be engaged and consulted where required
- share appropriate knowledge to benefit water management
- work in partnership with the department and other water agencies to contribute to water policy review and development.
How the Committees were formed
The Aboriginal Water Program ran an expressions of interest process in July and August 2023. This was to seek applications from Aboriginal peoples to become Regional Aboriginal Water Committee members.
To become a Regional Aboriginal Water Committee member, applicants must:
- identify as an Aboriginal person, have the ancestral links, and be accepted by their community as a person who can represent their interests
- reside in a local Nation or community they would represent
- have knowledge of local water issues in the region, including Aboriginal cultural water knowledge and basic knowledge of how water is used and allocated, infrastructure, policy, strategy and planning of water on country
- make a commitment to travel to and participate in up to 4 meetings a year.
- not be public servants.
The first meetings of the Committees were held in Wagga Wagga, Dubbo and Tamworth in November and December 2023.
For more information visit Aboriginal Water Program
Contact us
Contact the Aboriginal Water Program team for more information:
Email: water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Call: 1300 081 047
Artist acknowledgement: Nathan Peckham
As a proud Tubba-gah man from Dubbo in the Wiradjuri Nation, I respectfully acknowledge all nations which the NSW DPE operates on. I acknowledge this artwork will be viewed off my home country of the Tubba-gah people and therefore ask you accept this artwork as an offering on behalf of my family as a gesture of continuing the legacy of the knowledge of our ancestors.
I would also like to pay respect to all traditional custodians of the country whose ancestral lands we all walk upon. I thank the Elders for their wisdom, courage, and sacrifice and pledge my commitment to preserving their legacy for future generations.
- Nathan Peckham