Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation (Joonga), in partnership with the University of Wollongong, have created a Sea Country Management Plan (SCMP). The SCMP covers Country from La Perouse at the top of Dharawal Country to Eden in Yuin Country. The SCMP contains the South Coast Aboriginal Peoples’ aspirations for the management and governance of their Sea Country.
The SCMP has been born out of years of lobbying and research by community leaders and Joonga. This initiative has been led and directed by community throughout the project. Critically, the ICIP created and documented through the SCMP research process is vested in community trust. Data sharing and publication are at the discretion of the community.
The process to create the SCMP involved on-Country workshops with community researchers, surveys, and circular consultation. The plan addresses common and locally specific issues identified by the community such as the growing effect of climate change and the barrens created by overwhelming sea urchin populations. With the Department of Primary Industries and non-government organisations initial support, the SCMP has the capacity to re-vest governance powers with the local aboriginal community. If utilised effectively, the SCMP can create sustainable wellbeing outcomes for community, culture and Country alike.