The meeting between the Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council, the NSW Office of Water, NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Bega Valley Shire Council is part of the Aboriginal Communities Water and Sewerage Program – a joint $200m partnership between the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) and the NSW Government.

NSWALC’s elected Councillor for the South Coast region Jack Hampton said the importance of the program could not be under estimated.

“Access to clean drinking water and repairs and upgrades to proper sewerage systems are vital to ensuring the improved health and living conditions for Aboriginal people in NSW,” he said.

“By putting in $100 million of our own money into the joint program over the next 25 years we are investing in future health of our communities and a better future for our people.”

Aboriginal Communities Water and Sewerage Program manager for the NSW Office of Water John Bourke said the work typifies the objectives of the overall program.

“For example, the installation of an electronic monitoring system on the tanks that supply water to the community will warn us when the water supply reaches critical levels.”

In early 2010, the 60 discrete Aboriginal communities identified under the

Aboriginal Communities Water and Sewerage Program will have been visited.

Judicial officers to visit Wallaga Lake, Narooma

MEMBERS of the Aboriginal communities of Wallaga Lake and Narooma will meet with judicial officers this weekend to exchange information about the issues facing Aboriginal communities on the South Coast.

The Ngara Yura Committee of the Judicial Commission organises a regular program of visits to Aboriginal communities in NSW to provide judicial officers with a greater understanding of contemporary Aboriginal society, customs and traditions, and of the challenges Aboriginal people face in the legal system.