The Eastern Goldfields Aboriginal
Landcare Project (EGALP) was coordinated by the RADG and funded by
the National Landcare Program (NLP). The aims of the EGALP were: (a)
to demonstrate the links between the development of the landscape in
outdoor living areas in Aboriginal communities and the environmental
health of Aboriginal communities; and (b) to assist Aboriginal people
undertake community landcare activities and to plan, coordinate and
implement landscape development programs. The landscape development
techniques and practices that EGALP promoted to Aboriginal communities
(Ninga Mia Village, Warta Kutju Aboriginal Corporation (at Morapoi
Station), Iragul Aboriginal Corporation (Tjirntu Parapara, Norseman),
Upurl Upurlila Ngurratja (Coonana), Paupiyala Tjarutja (Tjuntjuntjara),
Leonora Aboriginal Movement Body (Leonora), Wongatha Wonganarra (Laverton),
Mt. Margaret, Cosmo Newberry were:
- Planting and looking after
shade trees;
- Planting and looking after
shelter belts of trees, bushes, and shrubs which will provide shelter
from the wind and keep down wind-borne dust;
- Erecting trellises and
planting vines to shade houses and amenity buildings;
- Constructing tree-guards
and fences to protect vegetation;
- Erecting traffic bollards
to restrict vehicles to defined roads within the community;
- Spreading coarse grained
river sand in outdoor living areas to create dust-free places to
sit and sleep;
- Selecting plant species
appropriate to the soil type, climate, amount of water available
and the intended function of the plant.
An outcome of
the project was the production of a workbook for Aboriginal communities
entitled "Growing
Trees for Shade and Shelter" which enabled communities to design
and position their own windbreaks and shade trees around houses and
settlement. Perhaps more significant was a research outcome by project
manager Michael Penberthy whereby the "dialogical approach" was
validated in terms of its effectiveness and appropriateness. This
is where the focus of the relationship between service provider
and community
members becomes clear, convivial, communication with mutual respect
for negotiation towards desired outcomes. This is opposed to the
normal practice by agencies which see outcomes as product installed
and funds
aquitted.
