COUNTRY VICTORIA’S NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
www.loddonherald.com.au
Loddon HERALD FREE EVERY THURSDAY
Vol 1 No 47 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021 ISSN 2653-1550
n PLANS HINT AT CHANGE TO TRADITIONAL ‘GUYURA’ n CAMP SITE MANAGEMENT REVIEW FLAGGED
PARK’S VISION By CHRIS EARL
THE redevelopment of Kooyoora State Park could start within six months. Friends of Kooyoora on Sunday were the first to see concept plans for the work by Djaara and Parks Victoria. Plans include new shelters, Aboriginal interpretative and cultural activity spaces defined camping areas and artwork. Project manager Mike Hayes and program manager Harvey Douglas flagged a review of campsite management with discussions to be held on whether access was for schools and organised groups only. Historic Catto Lodge has been included in concept plans. A year ago, the Catto family and local communities advocated for the lodge’s retention, linking local management of Melville Caves with earlier and later Aboriginal use or management. The plans have been badged Guyura. Mr Douglas said that corrected the mispronunciation of the letter G in the Aboriginal name and made the spelling more accurate. He said any formal change of name was at the early stages of the process and there would be external consultation. Mr Hayes told Friends of Kooyoora the park was “not just for visitors ... there are other elements”. Areas identified for upgrading in the process to developing concept plans were the picnic area, camping area and lookout.
Harvey Douglas and Mike Hayes unveil concept plans to Friends of Kooyoora members on Sunday. LH PHOTO Mr Hayes said the works would be the first recreation, corporate practice and customs project with Djaara, the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Corporation. “We started this process and engaged a lot of Djaara members,” he said, “And we did some local engagement as well.” “There has been a lot of learning from the process. We are getting better and better at engaging and planning stages ... keeping community informed.” Mr Hayes said the staged up-
NOW SELLING STOCKFEED
grade project would include a walking track, seasonal pond, a re-shaped carpark, shelters and relocation of toilets. He said the old camping area space behind Catto Lodge would become a cultural area - a permanent welcome area and ceremonial fireplace. Matt Catto said planned upgrades were the “opportunity to showcase the beauty that is in it (the park). Former local forestry officer Mark Gilmore told the meeting
that “everyone’s culture is important. That’s the challenge for Djaara and us”. Mr Hayes said there was flexibility to review camping use. Whether for schools and groups and not for the public, “we can talk about (that) with Djaara”. “We are envisioning and hoping there will be an increase in usage. We’re hoping to see people use the park for the right reasons and in the right way.” No capping of camp numbers has been included in plans re-
leased but a booking system was flagged at Sunday’s meeting. Mr Douglas said Visit Victoria officials toured the park last Friday, discussing Kooyoora’s cultural tourism potential. Friends’ members also asked Djarra to consider commercial opportunities at the park and reviving its use as a concert venue Djaara has said Dja Dja Wurrung values would be embedded into the landscape design. Works were originally to have started in spring.