Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation expressed "deep concern and disappointment" on Saturday over the recent wastewater overflow into the Upper Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), affecting the Guildford and Viveash areas — a place of "immense cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance" to the Whadjuk Noongar people.
Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation said that despite the environmental and cultural implications of this incident, it was not informed by Water Corporation or consulted as the rightful cultural authority under the Whadjuk Indigenous Land Use Agreement.
The organisation said in a statement that the "exclusion is not only disrespectful but also a breach of the cultural rights and responsibilities that underpin the ILUA".
The WAC also said efforts by their chief executive, Leon Ruri, to directly contact the Water Corporation CEO about the matter "have been ignored".
"The health of the Derbarl Yerrigan is the health of our People. It is time for engaging in meaningful partnership, not exclusion," Mr Ruri said.
"We call on Water Corporation to act with transparency and accountability, and to respect the cultural authority of Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation by formally engaging with us in all matters impacting Whadjuk land and waters."
The Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation said the "lack of engagement" demonstrates a "continued pattern of institutional disregard for Aboriginal voices and cultural governance, particularly when it comes to the protection of sacred waterways and Country".
A spokesperson for Water Corporation told National Indigenous Times that the organisation's CEO, Pat Donovan, has been on leave during the period in question.
Update added 7 July
On Monday, the spokesperson said: "Our Aboriginal Heritage and Native Title team advised we followed all protocols for a Registered Heritage site."
"We notified Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) in the first instance and then South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC). Yesterday (6 July), we sent a formal notification to SWALSC, which was also sent to Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, as per DPLH protocols," they said.
"Following that, our team spoke last night with Leon Ruri and offered to meet in person in the coming days."
