A new environmental and community place that will replace the disused Bellarine Basin has a new name.
Barwon Water’s former Bellarine Basin on the corner of Grubb and Swan Bay roads will be known as ‘Murrk Ngubitj Yarram Yaluk’, meaning ‘head waters of continuous flowing river’ in Wadawurrung language.
The former basin, which is no longer used and will be transformed into more than 30 hectares of public open space, sits at the headwaters of Yarram Creek. ‘Yarram’ is a Wadawurrung word meaning ‘continuously flowing’.
The name aligns with works, already underway, to remove the basin and restore the headwaters of Yarram Creek, and is a symbol of Barwon Water’s commitment to work closely with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners on the project.
The name was recently agreed upon by the site’s agency advisory group, which includes Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, Barwon Water, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and City of Greater Geelong.
Plans for the site support its cultural and environmental values, and Barwon Water’s commitment to open the land for public use and recreational purposes.
“We are pleased to see a name for this site that reflects Wadawurrung history of use by travellers going east to west to access fresh water,” Wadawurrung Traditional owners Aboriginal Corporation Language Officer Stephanie Skinner said.
“Caring for country and protecting the natural assets we all depend upon is becoming increasingly crucial, and we are proud to be taking such responsibility with the Bellarine Basin rehabilitation project,” Barwon Water Managing Director Tracey Slatter said.
“Works at Murrk Ngubitj Yarram Yaluk – a new space with benefits to the environment and local community – will be carried out progressively and will involve observing and responding to the environment, to ensure we protect and enhance the ecological values of the site at each stage.”
The Victorian government is supporting the project through its Distinctive Areas and Landscapes program for the Bellarine, from which Barwon Water received $650,000 matched funding for the $1.3 million project.
Barwon Water will be undertaking further community engagement on the project over the next six months with a concept plan showing the proposed layout and activities for the site to become available soon.
