Positive community engagement with Gaangalu and Darumbal Peoples at Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu).
The Rookwood Weir is an innovative landmark project that will bolster water security and drive agricultural, industrial and urban prosperity and growth for Central Queensland. The project was funded by the Queensland and Australian Government and delivered by an Alliance comprising Sunwater, GHD, ACCIONA and McCosker Contracting.
Located on the Fitzroy River, 66 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton, the weir is the biggest to be constructed in Australia since World War II. Providing 74,325 ML capacity, with at least 50 per cent allocated for agricultural use, the storage will enable Fitzroy Basin landholders to expand existing operations and/or transition to higher value ventures including irrigated cropping, horticulture and intensive livestock production. It also creates industrial opportunities in CQ and provides water security for urban growth in Rockhampton and Gladstone.
Throughout its lifecycle, the Alliance maintained positive community engagement with Traditional Owners impacted by the construction and water storage easement for Rookwood Weir.
The Queensland Government, the owners of Rookwood Weir, entered into Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) with the Gaangalu (GNP) and Darumbal Peoples in November 2021 and April 2022 respectively. The agreements recognise the Traditional Custodians of the lands where Rookwood Weir and its enabling project such as Riverslea and Hanrahan crossings are located.
One of the benefits of the ILUAs included co-naming of the weir with a Traditional language name in addition to English language name. The name gifted by the Darumbal People is Managibei Gamu (pronounced: Ma-an-ge-bay Ga-moo) which in Darumbal language means ‘keeping – saving’ water.
A requirement of the ILUAs was for representatives from the Alliance to meet Darumbal and GNP elders every six months to discuss ILUA commitments and provide an update on Rookwood Weir and its enabling projects. These meeting were regularly held at Rookwood Weir and included site visits for Traditional Owners.
Deepening its connection and positive engagement with the Traditional Owners, the Alliance facilitated a ‘Smoking Ceremony’ at the construction site with a Darumbal elder and celebrated NAIDOC week each year during construction with activities including:
- educational NAIDOC week posters displayed around the camp and construction site
- a dance ceremony performed by Darumbal representatives
- team meals featuring traditional Aboriginal ingredients hosted by the site kitchen
- Alliance representatives attending Darumbal’s NAIDOC march in Rockhampton
- gifting of a unique 3D painting by Indigenous artist, Rainman Boland, to the Rookwood Weir Alliance via team member and proud Darumbal man, Willie Hayden. The painting represented Willie’s connection to the land Rookwood Weir is located on.
With respect to Indigenous employment, the project had contractual obligations to engage 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personnel; six within 125km radius, three from broader Central Queensland and two from across Queensland. Through a focused commitment to engaging with and upskilling Indigenous personnel, the project engaged a total of 81 people who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, including 60 people who lived within 125km of the project.
Of the many enduring legacies of the Rookwood Weir, the project team’s positive engagement with the Traditional Owners is a standout.