Echuca's Aquatic Reserve was the site for a native reed‑planting event on 29 April, marking the lead‑in project to the Weaving Waterways program. The event involved students from St Joseph's College and the Njernda Youth program, planting traditional reeds on Country under the guidance of Woka Walla, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service and Campaspe Shire Council's Parks and Gardens team. Native plants for the project were supplied by Rochester Nursery.
This project is supported through flood recovery funding provided by Emergency Recovery Victoria under the Community Recovery Hubs Program, which is jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments following the October 2022 floods. The funding is designed to support community‑led, culturally safe recovery activities that help people reconnect, heal, and rebuild a sense of place after disaster.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Daniel Mackrell, who attended the event, said the reed-planting contributed directly to this aim by supporting cultural renewal, environmental repair and long‑term recovery of a flood‑impacted waterway.
"The planting also holds deep cultural significance," the mayor said.
"Respected Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Denise Morgan‑Bulled has longed for almost 40 years to see traditional reeds returned to local waters so that weaving practices can continue on Country.
"This long‑awaited project represents the beginning of young people reconnecting with culture and creating a place their families can return to, gather, and enjoy for generations to come, right here in Echuca."
The event provided an opportunity to support revegetation efforts following the floods and contribute to the regeneration of local flora, fauna and the natural environment, while becoming part of the site's ongoing recovery story. The reed planting supports a public art installation to be launched in June at the site, creating a permanent gathering place. Following the launch, the project will continue through wrap‑around school and youth-based activations, bringing life to the artwork through learning, storytelling and hands‑on engagement on Country.
"Alongside cultural connection, this project will help reinvigorate the body of water, stabilise eroded edges and improve the overall health of the site, supporting both environmental restoration and flood recovery outcomes," Cr Mackrell said.
