The Werai Lands

The Werai Lands, a site of immense cultural and environmental significance, is undergoing a remarkable transformation thanks to a trial delivery of water for the environment.

Formerly publicly owned state forest, Werai Lands is part of the NSW Central Murray State Forest Ramsar site. Ownership of Werai Lands was transferred to the Werai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation in 2023.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, managed an environmental water delivery during spring 2024. The trial between 10 and 21 October provided 3,400 megalitres per day of water into the Edward–Kolety River, sending flows into Werai Forest.

Stewart Taylor, chairperson of the Werai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation and a member of the Wemba Wemba community, shared the profound connection his people have with this land.

'Werai Lands are a group of lands that we've owned for millennia and are spiritually connected to,' Mr Taylor said. 'For us, it's a place to practice our culture on our Country. Now, having it back and being able to put water down there and see the growth in the forest is great. To me, it's home, it's being grounded, it's our spiritual connection to the Country.

'We have food and medicinal plants throughout the forest. We have big Cumbungi reeds out there. Without that water, none of that would thrive,' he added.

Senior Environmental Water Management Officer Paul Childs, described the watering event as 'groundbreaking'.

'The environmental water was a portion of a larger release from Hume Dam storage which was coordinated at a system-wide scale, reaching various waterways and wetlands along the 2,500 km of the Murray River and its anabranches.

'The release flow levels aimed to inundate the largest possible area of Werai Lands within existing constraints and available water volumes. Significant efforts were made in stakeholder engagement and monitoring, resulting in a successful event from operational, cultural, environmental, and community engagement perspectives. This event is seen as a precursor to the future of environmental watering in the southern connected basin.'

In 2023–24, the department worked with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to develop water accounting arrangements for Werai Lands, and work is currently underway to replace outdated water delivery infrastructure.

'The Werai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation is a delivery partner. Werai Lands is a significant place with hundreds of Aboriginal sites, and there are probably many more that haven't been identified. Between its Aboriginal ownership, cultural significance, and status as a wetland of international importance, it's a place of great significance and value.'

Watch our short video to learn more about the work to improve the health of Werai Forest.