State Government reaches landmark water research agreement with Yawuru in Broome

A formal agreement to investigate groundwater resources on Yawuru country, the first of its kind, has been signed between the Yawuru Prescribed Body Corporate and the WA Government.

Yawuru traditional owners will work with staff from the Department of Water and Environmental regulation to investigate and monitor groundwater and surface water resources as part of the La Grange Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems project.

The project will determine the relationship between groundwater in the Broome and Wallal aquifers and dependent ecosystems from Broome to Port Hedland, and will directly inform local groundwater resource management.

As part of the agreement, the project team has also worked with North Regional TAFE to develop a Certificate II in Water Monitoring which will enable Yawuru rangers to acquire formal qualifications that recognise their skills in surface and groundwater monitoring.

The rangers will play a major role in the collection and analysis of data, helping build capacity and skills, and support the management of their country and water systems.

It comes after Nyamba Buru Yawuru was recently issued with a three gigalitre groundwater licence on Roebuck Station for an irrigation project.

Water Minister Dave Kelly said the agreement would support Yawuru people to fulfil their cultural responsibilities to look after country.

Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said she was proud to see the Yawuru people afforded the key role in the important investigation of groundwater resources located on their country

The investigation is one of the 18 current projects funded through the State Groundwater Investigation Program.