BULOKE Shire Council has met with traditional owners to discuss the protection of emus and their chicks at Mt Wycheproof.
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Local traditional owners are asking the state government and shire to protect the native wildlife, along with the mountain and its more than 100 endemic plants and animals.
A traditional owner of the area Gary Murray said First Nations residents had tried to engage council for years without success.
"Buloke Shire Council has previously allowed fencing to be removed, and has recently erected infrastructure on Mt Wycheproof without any consultation or notice to traditional owners," he said.
"This is although the traditional owners have been consistently requesting to work with council for more than five years, but without any response.
"Emus are sacred for First Nations people, including the Wamba Wamba, Barapa Barapa and Wergaia, who are the traditional owners of the area."
Traditional owners met with members of the Buloke Shire on Tuesday night to discuss the situation moving forward.
"It was a positive meeting," Mr Murray said.
"We put forward our concerns about Mt Wycheproof and other projects we would like to get moving and we're now in the process of writing a letter to council and we will see where we go from there."
Traditional owners are foreshadowing applications to the state and federal governments for heritage protection.
Under state heritage law, sites of tangible and intangible significance are protected from interference and destruction, and the law carries the strictest penalties in Australia.
"Traditional owners are demanding the emus, as well as other animals and plants, be protected from further harm, including via a proper management plan," Mr Murray said.
A Buloke Shire Council spokesperson said in a statement council was working to bring this plan to fruition.
"Council has engaged an appropriately qualified and experienced consultant to develop a wildlife management plan to understand the complexities and opportunities in managing the emu population on Mt Wycheproof," the statement said.
"The plan will look at actions to manage wildlife at Mt Wycheproof that are effective, evidence-based and relevant, considerate of animal welfare and cultural heritage, community and other biodiversity values.
"Some engagement with traditional owners has already taken place and over coming weeks, council staff will meet with traditional owners to discuss the plan further.
"Once the plan is in draft, it will be released for broad community feedback and input. Council will liaise closely with stakeholders in its implementation."
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