Community Engagement

Joint Management Plan For the Dja Dja Wurrung Parks

Manyangu ngulumbara dhelkunya djandak murrup
'We meet together to return good health to country and spirit'



The first ever Joint Management Plan (JMP) for the Dja Dja Wurrung Parks was launched at a community gathering by Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, on Saturday 13 October 2018 at Kooyoora State Park. This is a proud milestone for the Board and the Joint management partners and the Dja Dja Wurrung Community.

This Plan will not only protect natural, historic and cultural values in six Victorian parks, but will empower the Traditional Owners in the joint management of the Parks, and will embed Dja Dja Wurrung People in the cultural and natural landscape.

In developing this Plan, the Dhelkunya Dja Land Management Board (DDLMB) worked consistently in close collaboration with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation Trading As DJAARA and the Victorian Government.

The Board engaged CSIRO to assist in the development of the plan. CSIRO has brought to the project their outstanding expertise in parks planning, and their formidable track record in leading the science of engagement and land management in collaboration with Traditional Owners. This work has provided opportunities to shift the paradigm of parks management in Victoria

The Planning team consulted widely throughout the development of the Joint Management Plan to balance the needs of many different stakeholder interests. CSIRO worked directly with the Traditional Owners to facilitate a broad ranging community engagement process, to gain a strong understanding of the Parks, their assets, the people who enjoy visiting them, and the cultural values of these places to Traditional Owners;

From April to June 2018, the Board ran a public consultation period of two months. We listened to many different voices through face-to-face meetings, emails, Community Information Sessions and through an online survey. We listened to Dja Dja Wurrung People through meetings with the DDW Champions Focus Group and the DDWCAC Board. Individuals and groups were invited to complete feedback forms at the Community Information Sessions, send submissions in any format by email, and/or to respond to an online survey.

The response to the public consultation was excellent. DDLMB received over one hundred and sixty separate submissions by email, including a large number of campaign letters raising concerns about prospecting exclusions and protection of mining heritage.

In total, two hundred and twenty-nine separate issues were identified and responded to. The submissions received were invaluable and have resulted in significant changes between the draft and final Plan.

Our consultants have prepared a summary of the responses received together with many positive comments reinforcing the draft Plan. This is published below.

The Written Submissions can also be viewed online – see button below.

Learn about our partners

Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation Trading As DJAARA

The Dja Dja Wurrung community established the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation Trading As DJAARA in 2004, and in 2010 they nominated the DDWCAC to negotiate the Recognition and Settlement Agreement.

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Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises

Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises Pty Ltd) is the commercial arm of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation.

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Conservation Management

Conservation Management connects people, projects and places using practical adaptive management and collaboration tools to deliver conservation management services.

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Parks Victoria

Parks Victoria has a wealth of operational resources to support the implementation and development of the JMP, including personnel, knowledge, documents and data.

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CSIRO

The Board has engaged CSIRO to assist in developing the Joint Management Plan for Dja Dja Wurrung Appointed Lands.

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