The health of the Darling Baaka will be better protected through a $4 million NSW Government investment that puts Barkandji cultural knowledge and smart monitoring technology at the heart of caring for the river.
The project brings together leading scientists from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Barkandji Prescribed Body Corporate to strengthen river monitoring and build on the ongoing response to the Menindee fish deaths.
Using smart buoys, cultural indicators and joint river monitoring, the project will provide earlier warnings of river health risks and support better decisions for the Darling Baaka.
The initiative will help protect and strengthen Barkandji cultural knowledge, build the skills of Barkandji Rangers, and increase community understanding of river health and Caring for Country.
The project is helping create a new way of caring for rivers by bringing together the best of cultural and scientific knowledge, with lessons that could benefit waterways across NSW.
This is one of five major environmental initiatives being delivered under the NSW Environmental Trust's 2024 to 2029 Strategic Plan and reflects a new approach to funding strategic, long-term initiatives addressing significant environmental challenges.
The NSW Environmental Trust is investing $39.1 million in the five projects, and when combined with grantee and partners' support, they will deliver more than $62 million in environmental, cultural and community benefits across NSW.
NSW Environmental Trust Director Katie Robinson said:
"The Darling Baaka is one of NSW's most important river systems, and bringing together cultural knowledge and modern technology will better protect its future. By partnering with Barkandji people, we're supporting healthier rivers, stronger communities and better-informed decisions.
"Each of the five major projects funded by the NSW Environmental Trust will help restore nature, strengthen climate resilience and improve the health of landscapes and waterways across NSW."
The Barkandji Prescribed Body Corporate CEO Luke Driscoll said:
"Caring for the Baaka has always been part of who the Barkandji people are. This project gives the Barkandji people the opportunity to be on Country, share our knowledge, experience and take an active role in looking after the river.
"It also creates opportunities for the next generation to build their own knowledge, skills and connection to Country, so that responsibility continues into the future."
The Environmental Trust had 4 other successful major grant recipients.
They are:
- lndigiGrow - ACHIEVE project ($6 million): Supporting the conservation and expansion of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a critically endangered coastal vegetation community in Sydney, through living seedbanks, culturally informed propagation and specialised workforce training.
- Natural Resources Commission - Whole-of-Country Management for Healthy Country project ($11.8 million): A seven-year initiative supporting seven NSW Aboriginal communities to lead cross-tenure natural resource management and care for Country.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Domain Trust and Bundjalung Tribal Society - Seed and Culture Conservation project ($4.8 million): Establishing an Indigenous-led seed conservation system on Bundjalung Country to strengthen cultural knowledge, support ecological restoration and build climate resilience.
- Western Sydney University - Climate Adaptation Trials ($12.5 million): Establishing large-scale trials across NSW to identify species, seed sources and genetic traits best suited to future climate conditions.
