WATER Northern Rivers writes about National Water Week and the significance of water to Indigenous culture:

Every third week of October, the Australian Water Association organises National Water Week. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about our water resources. 

A chance to reflect on our national water management as we head toward longer and more severe droughts. 

During National Water Week communities can engage at the local level. 

How do we protect our water environments? How do we use our drinking water?

Did you know that in 2018 - 2019 Ballina Shire lost more water than Richmond Valley Council used in 2019 -2020? 

We can’t afford to waste precious drinking water. Only 3% of the water on the planet is freshwater. 

It moves through the water cycle, down our gutters and drains, through our catchments, and eventually back to our drinking taps. National Water Week is a time to remember that water is precious! 

The theme of National Water Week this year is Caring for Water and Country. 

This celebrates the vital and cultural role that water plays in our lives. Aboriginal people have been protecting and sustaining our water and lands for over 65,000 years. It's a timely reminder as Rous County Council progresses its new integrated water management plan.

WATER Northern Rivers will keep the community up to date as new water options come on board. 

Since councillors voted against the Dunoon Dam in 2020, a huge misinformation campaign was launched. 

Many in the community believe that the dam is the only solution for water security in the Northern Rivers. 

However, the Widjabul Wia-bal (WW) people are opposed to the dam.

A fact that has been reinforced since the Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment was made public this week. 

Uncle John Roberts, a senior Elder Widjabul Wia-bal says “I was one of the stakeholders consulted in 2011 about the impact of the Dunoon Dam on cultural heritage. 

In the 2011 Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment prepared for Rous, we stakeholders said with one voice that no level of disturbance was acceptable to us. We still say that. Nothing has changed. There is no need for another study. Our opinion has not changed.” 

WATER Northern Rivers respects the Widjabul Wia-bal and stands with them.

We oppose any further studies and support the scaling up and investigation of diverse water options for real water security in the Northern Rivers. Rous County Council plans to investigate desalination.

They will set up the Peradeniya pilot project for our very first Purified Recycled Water (PRW) plant in the Northern Rivers. We embrace Australian innovation and technology. 

ARTWORK FOR NATIONAL WATER WEEK 2021 “Our Waters” by artist Dennis Golding 

Story behind the artwork 

The artwork titled “Our Waters” was produced with Spirit Creative by artist Dennis Golding whose connection to Country stems from the freshwater and saltwater regions of northern and north-west NSW. 

The patterns flow through different water streams and continue the paths around the circular motifs that often reference meeting places and waterholes. The waters operate as a protector of these grounds to acknowledge First people’s connection to land and waters as they too care for Country now, and who have done so since time immemorial. 

Story behind the artwork from: 

https://www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/About_AWA/National_Water_Week.aspx#Media%20Kit