Working together to support cultural fire
How we are working with Tweed Byron LALC to undertake cultural burning
Capacity building - LEP_23 _033_LLC_TLI_10_2
The issue
The Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council (TBLALC) Land and Sea Rangers are managing TBLALC land along the Tweed Coast. As part of their management they were keen to reinstate cultural fire. There is the cultural knowledge within TBLALC but no fire management plans and the Land and Sea Rangers have not undertaken any formal fire training, nor do they have the required personal protective equipment (PPE) or tools.
The solution
The Tweed Landcare Local Landcare Coordinator secured funding through the North Coast Regional Landcare Networks CountryCare project to work with TBLALC to write a fire management plan for TBLALC land at Wommin.
During this planning process, which involved a representative from the Rural Fire Service (RFS), an opportunity came up the Northern Rivers Koala Partnership to secure a trailer that is set up for managing fire activities. The RFS is helping the Land and Sea Rangers to access training and PPE through the local brigade.
The impact
There are lots of impacts from this collaboration. Traditional fire knowledge will be passed on the Land and Sea Rangers, they will also have access to the PPE and tools to apply fire to County. A cultural burn is planned for this fire season.
Learnings
Cultural projects require time- it has taken longer than expected to get to where we are but we have always been moving in the right direction.
Key facts
- Partnerships are key while funding is helpful it could not happen without local support from the RFS.