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 The Dharriwaa Elders Group works to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage from mining damage
One of the Dharriwaa Elders Group projects is an environmental and cultural heritage management program. This program involves regular Elders trips to monitor and identify sites of significance, and conducts a program of authentication regarding places and practices of Aboriginal cultural significance. It produces explanatory resources to share Walgett's Aboriginal cultural heritage with the community and visitors, and advises all tiers of government, miners and landholders regarding protection of areas of high Aboriginal cultural significance.
A valuable tool used by this program is the DEG’s multimedia site register.
The Dharriwaa Elders Group has been actively concerned about the impact opal mining will have in the newly-gazetted Opal Prospecting Area 4 since 2001.
In 2005 the Dharriwaa Elders Group made a submission regarding the NSW Dept of Mineral Resources "Opal Mining within the Narran-Warrambool Reserve, Lightning Ridge - Review of Environmental Factors, 2004", July 2005
In May 2007 we engaged archaeologists Heritage Concepts to undertake a limited archaeological training survey of properties within OPA 4 in order to assist the DEG to prove to government the need for further surveys to be done before mining begins.
The DEG recently commissioned a review of the scientific work undertaken by the NSW Government that justifies opal mining proceeding in the area known as OPA 4 around the Narran Lakes wetland. This process has contributed to staff knowledge of legal and scientific matters relating to DEG's Aboriginal cultural heritage management work. It has also assisted DEG members to communicate with scientists and develop a shared knowledge of local issues of concern to them.
With the help of our legal advisors Gilbert + Tobin, the DEG believes it is assisting government agencies to recognise their duty to protect Aboriginal areas, places and objects, and to protect threatened species and prevent threatening processes.
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| Left: Dharriwaa Elders Group team took the Heritage Concepts archaeology team on a one-day tour of OPA 4. Right: DEG meets with NSW Mineral Resources staff while legal adviser from G+T is on the speaker phone, July 2006
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