Birrarung is a part of Country, where land, sky, water, culture and living beings are connected and depend on one another. She cannot be understood or cared for separately from Country.
Decisions affecting the river and her lands also affect broader environmental, cultural and social systems and vice versa.
The knowledge, authority and cultural practices of Birrarung's Traditional Owners are fundamental to caring for the river and her lands.
Most of Birrarung and her catchment are within the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) boundary. Near the river mouth, Birrarung flows through the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation RAP boundary before her waters merge with Port Phillip Bay.
Embedding Traditional Owner knowledge, expertise and perspectives in planning and decision-making, delivers stronger outcomes and supports a better understanding of Country.
Key considerations:
Engage the appropriate Traditional Owner group: Only the recognised Traditional Owner group has the authority to speak for and make decisions about their Country. Planners must engage the relevant RAP for the area affected by a proposal:
Engage early: Begin engagement before key decisions are made so that Traditional Owner expertise can meaningfully shape the project scope, options, design and decision-making.
Allow sufficient time and resources: Meaningful engagement requires adequate time, resourcing and commitment to build trusted, respectful relationships between planning authorities, proponents and Traditional Owners.
Respect governance and decision-making processes: Traditional Owner groups have distinct governance structures, cultural protocols and ways of making decisions. These should be understood and accommodated in project planning, timelines, assessment and decision-making.
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation request to be engaged directly and early and in all decision-making that may affect Birrarung and her lands. Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung will self-determine involvement on a case-by-case basis.
Page last updated: 30/10/26