The Wire

It is a rare to get back land for a precious ecological wetland area, and even rarer to have the original aboriginal people managing the area to rehabilitate and conserve it.

This is happening in the Lower Murrumbidgee river between Hay and Balranald.  The NSW Government has bought up adjoining properties adjoining National Parks,  and given it over to be managed by the Nari Nari tribe with stewardship by the not-for-profit Nature Conservancy.

Aboriginal people will be managing water, restoring habitats, running eco-tourism and cultural tours, and managing livestock on dryland areas.

This could turn out to be the national model for combining indigenous culture, ecology and income producing land for the benefit of all.