Victorian Traditional Owner Water Policy Framework

Victorian Traditional Owners have invested significant effort to engage government on water reform in recent years. Our vision is for an equitable and sustainable water management regime which recognises the rights of Victorian Traditional Owners to use, develop and control water resources on and under our country. In practice this means having access to the consumptive and non-consumptive pools, enabling us to fulfil our cultural responsibilities and to provide cultural, spiritual, social and economic well-being for current and future generations, while at the same time promoting the conservation of water resources and delivering benefits to the wider community. 

Whilst we understand that overcoming current inequities will take time, we believe that a focus on the following four core and two supporting policy areas will be critical in making progress towards our vision. The outcomes we are seeking in each of these areas area as follows:

1. Legislative recognition of Aboriginal rights and values
2. Water allocation and use: water for culture and development
3. Physical access to water
4. Participation in water resource governance
5. Capacity building and resources; and
6. Research and community education