Past funding has allowed the restoration revegetation of the Knight Street Frog Ponds since 2016. Now, the Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprise will be able to continue to restore waterways on their country.

Member for Bendigo Maree Edwards announced $120,000 towards maintaining an existing water policy officer, and $100,000 for future project management, as part of a broader program of statewide funding for the Aboriginal Water Program.

Read more: Bendigo Creek wins in cash splash

Project Manager Shane Anstee has seen the site completely change during the course of the works completed.

He is delighted that the additional funding will allow the enterprise to look around for further sites to restore, as part of the corporation’s country plan.

When work began, the site was a disused tip, smothered by weed species, intersected by two stormwater drains.

Now, the site is home to a series of ponds to clean water before it flows into the Bendigo Creek.

These slow the flow of water, allowing the sediment to sink and be excavated.

The enterprise also revegetated the site, with culturally significant plants, which also filter water.

The work has completely changed the health of the site, and resulted in cleaner water flowing into the Bendigo Creek.

“This was as bad as it can get, and now you look at it and it’s almost like an oasis,” Mr Anstee said.

“We want to actually emulate this kind of project throughout the system, or throughout the country.”

Aunty Marilyne Nicholls has been involved as a water projects officer, and as a Dja Dja Wurrung person working with Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises and engaging members.

Water is life, and holds huge significance for the Dja Dja Wurrung people as a place to live, and part of traditional ceremonies, Aunty Marilyne said.

Now, they want to reclaim agency in the system of water ownership, for the good of the land and for future generations.

“Everybody needs to play their part for the future of better water for country as well as people, and the impact it plays on that bigger biodiversity of life,” she said.

“Because it’s not just about us as peoples, it’s about the future, it’s about what we leave for our kids for the future.”

When the work began, the site was a disaster zone.

The project has changed her mind about how Aboriginal people can work to heal waterways.

“When I first was asked if I’d like to be involved in a Bendigo Creek project, I said, no,” Aunty Marilyne said.

“I teach traditional weaving with sedge grasses, and I thought no, I’m not going to take any of my people down to that waterway to get sick while they’re harvesting grasses, we’re not going anywhere near it.

“To see something like this, and to be engaged and work on this process of how it’s been developed has changed my mind about how we can work to start healing that water.”