Bangerang support alternate Mokoan proposal

Elders of the Bangerang community, who are the traditional custodians of the Lake Mokoan area, have thrown their support behind the Mokoan Wetlands proposal developed by the Justice for the Broken Valley Group.

Bangerang Elder, Sandy Atkinson has written to the Minister for Water, John Thwaites confirming Bangerang support for maintaining water in the lake in order to best protect Aboriginal heritage sites.

Mr Atkinson did this in response to comments in the media by Mr Bill O’Kane, CEO, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority stating that the Justice for the Broken Valley Group’s plan would not protect Aboriginal sites.

Mr Atkinson said, “As an Elder of the Bangerang community, the traditional owners of the Mokoan area, I refute this statement and I wish to point out that the adoption of the plan proposed by the Justice for the Broken River Group (ie. the alternative plan) is closely aligned to our criteria for the protection of our culturally important sites and artefacts.

“As long as we have ongoing consultation and input, and notice is taken of our concerns, we have no doubt that the implementation of this alternative plan will result in a much better outcome for our cultural heritage.

“The total decommissioning of Lake Mokoan will result in some of the most significant cultural artefacts being exposed, thereby risking the desecration of these areas, where as the alternative plan allows for these artefacts to remain safely covered by water.