Cultural burn at Aboriginal site

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) completed a successful cultural burn at the Daleys Point Aboriginal Site in Bouddi National Park late last month.

The burn, which covered 1.1ha, is a crucial component of a broader hazard reduction effort which aims to maintain safety and preserve the cultural heritage of the site.

The cultural burn was led by indigenous NPWS staff, Aboriginal community members and the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC).

Traditional burn techniques, including the use of fire sticks instead of drip torches, were employed to ensure a cool, slow “medicine burn”, which will revive native grasses and vegetation that historically thrived in the area.

This careful approach was essential in preserving the site’s significant cultural features.

Daleys Point Aboriginal Site protects more than 20 rock engravings, charcoal drawings, axe grinding grooves and a shell midden dating back 5,000-plus years.

The cultural burn was stage two of a larger hazard reduction plan for the area, following the successful completion of a 27.7ha hazard reduction burn in November 2022.

It also complements the ongoing conservation work being undertaken at the site, including high lighting, drainage improvements and vegetation management, funded by the Aboriginal Partnership Program.

NPWS Central Coast Area Manager Steve Atkins said the cultural burn was a valuable educational experience for everyone involved.

“For some of our NPWS staff, this was their first exposure to traditional burn techniques,” he said.

“It was important for us to get this right, not only for the safety of the surrounding community but also to honour the cultural significance of the site.

“We hope this collaboration between NPWS, the Darkinjung LALC, and members of the local Aboriginal community will be the first in a long line of future projects incorporating cultural knowledge into our land management practices.”

Darkinjung LALC Culture, Heritage and Education Officer Jacob Cain said the burn was special, not just for the Indigenous community but for the whole Central Coast community.

“It was the best feeling to be back on Country doing what our old people once did on a regular basis to keep Country healthy and tidy,” he said.

“The benefits from the fire will be so appreciated by our wildlife here on the Coast and I hope we can do many more.

“I see NPWS and Darkinjung LALC working together in the near future on a lot more burns all over the Central Coast.”