ABORIGINAL CULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT AND TRANSPORT RESILIENCE

Julie Andrews; Ryan O’Callaghan

The NSW Bushfire Inquiry 2020 recommended exploring the ways in which Aboriginal cultural land management practices could mitigate vulnerability to natural disasters. In response, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) commissioned a report from La Trobe’s Gabra Biik Wurruwila Wutja Indigenous Research Centre in partnership with iMOVE CRC to identify culturally-informed solutions for the protection of Country along transport corridors. Gabra Biik, Wurruwila Wutja worked with three Indigenous communities across NSW throughout the project, Coonabarabran (Gamilaraay), Bateman's bay (Walbunja) and Jubullum (Western Bundjalung).

The report found that fire and cultural burning were the most important factors identified by community for vegetation management, and that Aboriginal People must be supported to lead in preparation and management of their Country throughout the bushfire season and beyond. Its proposal for an Aboriginal-led framework for building resilience in the transport corridor has been endorsed by TfNSW and its findings incorporated into their Network Resilience Program.

Published August 2026.