Cardinia councillor Graeme Legge, ICACC co-chair and Wurundjeri elder Vicki Nicholson Brown, deputy director of Aboriginal Affairs Ian Hamm, Mornington Shire mayor and ICACC co-chair Brian Stahl, Bunurong Land Council senior cultural officer Stephen Compton and Delfin Lend Lease landscape architect Luke Norden.PLANS to better protect and manage Aboriginal cultural heritage were highlighted at a community forum in Pakenham last week.
The new Aboriginal Heritage Act was the focus of discussions at an Inter Council Aboriginal Consultative Committee (ICACC) forum held at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
More than 60 people listened to Ian Hamm, deputy director of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria talk about the new Act that aims to improve protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria.
Mr Hamm answered questions from the floor following his presentation.
The focus of the afternoon session was a presentation on preserving cultural heritage in the Delfin Lakeside development in Pakenham.
Delfin Lend Lease landscape architect Luke Norden, Stephen Compton from the Bunurong Land Council and archaeologist David Rhodes provided insights into this preservation of significant sites and artefacts.
The presentation focused on the cultural heritage work in the Delfin Lakeside estate and the value of this being replicated in other areas of the Cardinia growth corridor and other municipalities.
Hosted by Cardinia Shire and Bass Coast Shire Councils, the forum provided the opportunity for current issues in regional Aboriginal affairs to be discussed and ideas to be shared.
ICACC is a partnership between the local Aboriginal communities and local governments in the south eastern region of Melbourne. The partnership has now been in place for more than 10 years.
Two new indigenous representatives were elected to the ICACC steering committee during the forum meeting.
