The project is part of the First Nations – Culture & Heritage Priority Project, focused on fostering cultural tourism experiences within the greater Geelong region. One of the project’s aims is to reopen a stretch of the river by 2025, enabling public access. If successful, this initiative would signify the first time since the early 1990s that the entire length of the river would be accessible to the public, offering an opportunity for cultural exploration and appreciation.
Since the project’s inception in 2018, SMEC has been actively involved in various aspects, including conducting detailed ecological assessments, ongoing ecological monitoring, statutory planning, environmental approvals, and contaminated land assessments. Collaborating closely with Wadawurrung and Barwon Water, SMEC is currently facilitating the implementation of Traditional Custodian land management practices and the development of a Healthy Country Plan. Working alongside the Wadawurrung Gobata Dja (Healthy Country) team, our SMEC team on site recorded the first-ever Tawny Grassbird identified in the Barwon region. Additionally, we identified nesting pairs of four different raptor species on the site and successfully completed our second year of quarterly native vegetation monitoring.