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Council participates in landmark cultural burn

In a significant first, Bega Valley Shire Council in collaboration with Fire and Rescue NSW and the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council, recently permitted a cultural burn at a Council-managed reserve in Tura Beach.

A cultural burn in progress at the Tura Beach Flora Reserve. Small flames and smoke blowing through native Australian bush.
A cultural burn in progress at the Tura Beach Flora Reserve

23 August 2023

In a significant first, Bega Valley Shire Council in collaboration with Fire and Rescue NSW and the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council, recently permitted a cultural burn at a Council-managed reserve in Tura Beach.

“While understanding this is certainly not the first cultural burning to occur on Djiringanj land, we are proud to be part of a collaborative solution to conducting burns of this type on Council-managed land,” Recreation Assets Officer, Ed Crothers said.

Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council Project Coordinator, Peter Dixon said cultural burns are conducted for a range of reasons, with each of them demonstrating the deep bond between Traditional Owners and the land.

“Ceremonies, protecting cultural and natural assets, the management of natural assets and healing are all reasons for conducting cultural burns,” Mr Dixon said.

“In this case the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council carried out the burn to protect the natural habitat of this important nature reserve.

“Differing from hazard reduction methods, a cultural burn produces less heat, promoting seed germination and rebuilding humus in the soil.

“This results in increased water retention and nutrient availability which encourages a healthy local ecosystem that’s less susceptible to fire risk in dryer times.”

Mr Crothers said Council was extremely grateful for the involvement of all parties.

“Working with the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council and Fire and Rescue NSW towards the achievement of this first cultural burn has been a rewarding process,” Mr Crothers said.

“I also thank members of the Tura Beach Flora Reserve Committee for their pivotal role in making this cultural burn happen. Their enthusiasm and dedication were instrumental in driving the project forward.

“Looking ahead, we aim to foster continued collaboration with local Indigenous and conservation groups with a focus on preserving the region's diverse flora and fauna.

“We are proud to have shown that through collaboration and a shared goal, these objectives can be achieved, and we are working with the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council to collaborate on more cultural burns on Council managed land.”

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