Over the past couple of weeks Nyiyaparli representatives have been out and about on country doing a Living Waters Survey with Rio Tinto and a Rehabilitation workshop with Roy Hill. These projects are a wonderful opportunity for Nyiyaparli to share their cultural knowledge, learn some western science techniques and care for country!

The Living Waters Surveys monitor different characteristics of the water in Weeli Wolli Creek, the water bugs, fish and landscape changes to see what changes are happening. The results from these studies are used to report back to Rio Tinto and the government about what impacts the water being discharged from the mining operations are having on the creek.

After spending a few days getting wet it was time for the crew to shift gears and have a few days working with the Rehabilitation Team over at Roy Hill. The workshop was jam packed with activities that covered the different stages of what’s involved for transitioning from mining to land that looks more like the natural landscape. From making sure that the top layer of soil that contains seeds and other nutrients is stored in the right area, using dozers to shape new landforms and drones to make sure the shape is right, ripping the soil so it’s ready for planting, to storing, treat and then dispersing the seeds at the right time – the team got to see it all and have a go at some of the work themselves!

Great job to all involved, thanks to Alicia Stevens, Debbie Drage, Ethel Drage, Haydn Allen, Raine Dunn, Sue Parker and Thelma Parker.