Abstract: A recent paper on governance of  regional natural resources noted the complexity of the field, yet almost completely failed to recognise the significant role Indigenous people are playing, and seek to play, in natural resource management in Australia. In NSW, Indigenous people generally hold little land, and hence must partner with other land & sea managers to gain opportunities to work on and be engaged in managing ‘country.’ By reference to some local history, and  by outlining the features of  a Land and Sea Country Plan  developed by the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, this presentation will explore the complexities and challenges facing local Indigenous people in NSW who have to partner with other NRM players to engage in natural resource management. 

This research is being supported by the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage.

Janet Hunt is a Fellow at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University where she is conducting research on the social benefits of Aboriginal involvement in natural resource management in NSW, and the work of International NGOs with Indigenous communities in Australia. She previously managed the Indigenous Community Governance Project, an ARC Linkage Project with Reconciliation Australia. Janet’s background is in education and international development and she has lectured in International and Community Development at RMIT and Deakin Universities. She was Executive Director of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, the peak body of international development NGOs, from 1995-2000 and prior to that was Executive Director of the International Women’s Development Agency. She has served on a number of Ministerial Advisory Committees.

B.J. Cruse is a member of the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council and was one of the consultants who worked on the Land and Sea Country Plan. He was the Chair of the Eden LALC for 25 years, and was involved in negotiations for the Regional Forest Agreement in the late 1990s, and early stages of Catchment Planning with the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. During his chairmanship of the Eden LALC, the organisation signed the first MOU with a local government, with the Bega Valley Shire Council, which recognises that Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants, custodians and native title holders of all land and water in the Shire. B.J. was an abalone diver until he got the bends and had to retire from that work.