Dharnya Centre going down the drain?

Jonathan la Nauze

A great cooperative initiative between Indigenous people and government is steadily going down the drain in Barmah, seemingly because of a lack of consistent vision within Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV). Despite 20 years of proven success in this joint Yorta Yorta Nation (YYN) – Parks Victoria (PV) enterprise, the Dharnya centre is deteriorating almost beyond repair due to a lack of resources. With it’s 20^th anniversary this December, it is time for the State Government to give Dharnya a birthday facelift.

Built in 1985 by Yorta Yorta hands, the Dharnya Centre has been a centre of learning and cultural exchange in the Barmah forest. Displays combine Yorta Yorta cultural knowledge with western science, and accommodation facilities have been used by hundreds of university and school groups. The centre is also the only PV information centre in the park where visitors can get advice on track conditions, recreational activities, and so on.

With the accommodation building now closed due to dilapidation, and the displays fading with age, Dharnya is struggling to fulfil these purposes. A business plan was developed by YYN and PV in 2003, and reworked in 2004. As well as urgent renovation funds, the plans include value-adding proposal for a new conference centre with a commercial kitchen that would also be used by hospitality courses in the nearby Yorta Yorta run Yenbena Indigenous Training Centre. Now, after two years of planning, there is still no money and no improvement.

After an apparently successful joint PV-AAV budget submission, this year, $9.6 million was released to AAV over three years for the establishment of an Aboriginal Land and Economic Program. AAV, however, have since indicated that the money will go to developing new initiatives elsewhere – places that no doubt deserve funding, but surely not at the expense of already successful projects!

To move towards implementation of the Dharnya Centre business plan, funds must be released funds for PV to complete the necessary schedule of works, concept plan and construction plan. We are urging Ministers Thwaites and Jennings to intervene to ensure this happens, and we hope you will do so too.

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write to the Ministers for Indigenous Affairs and the Environment – all details available on the FoE website.