About

From time immemorial, Yorta Yorta people managed their Country. In 2010 the Yorta Yorta community and the State of Victoria came together and agreed to develop a Joint Management Plan for the Barmah National Park in which this knowledge and skill would be used to nurture this Country back to health.

2019 will be a big year for this planning process. A draft plan is set to be drafted with the Yorta Yorta community, with Yorta Yorta and non-Yorta Yorta community engagements and discussions to follow.

Whether you are Yorta Yorta or non-Yorta Yorta, we hope that you will sign up to stay in touch and to hear about how you can have your say on the future of the beloved Barmah National Park.

Vision: To create a healthy environment in the Barmah National Park for the benefit and enjoyment of all people and country whilst incorporating, recognising and reflecting the cultural beliefs, values, and the traditional land management practices of people of the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Traditional Owners of this part of the Murray River (Dhungalla) which creates prosperity for our people.

Yorta Yorta Traditional Owner Land Management Agreement

In 2010 the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation entered into an agreement with the State of Victoria. This agreement ensured that the recently created Barmah National Park would be run on the principles of joint management, as has been seen in other similar examples around the country such as Uluru and Kakadu.

The management plan that is being written is expected to cover the following issues:

conservation of natural values and cultural values;
managing threatened species;
the recognition, practice and utilisation of traditional Yorta Yorta knowledge and customs;
attracting and managing visitors;
managing authorised and adjacent uses (including third party interests);
community awareness and involvement;
managing public use and access to the land;
plan implementation;
providing operational support to the board
promoting, encouraging, and assisting YY persons to take advantage of employment, training and contracting opportunities relating to the appointed land;
managing commercial and other land use activities;
managing fire consistently with the secretary’s directions; and
any additional matters contained in relevant ministerial guidelines