Stories and cultural knowledge shared by Nyangbal people has been included in Ballina Shire Council's recently unveiled Water Stories and Soundtrail.
Featuring the voices of Nyangbal knowledge holders Marcus Ferguson, the late Uncle Ricky Cook, Aunty Sandra Bolt and Uncle Graham Marlowe, the Soundtrail guides listeners from the Marine Rescue Tower to Pioneer Park in East Ballina.
Soundtrack signage has replaced Historic Ballina Waterfront signs, which have deteriorated over time, with 23 signs featuring updated content and a contemporary design.
Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) chairperson, Kylie Jacky, said the project marks an important moment in local storytelling.
"The soundtrail project is the first time the Ballina Shire will hear all the voices of our shared history that makes Ballina what it is today," Ms Jacky said.
"Importantly, we will hear truth telling from our Nyangbal cultural knowledge holders who are the voices of Country."
The signs explore themes including connection to the river, the importance of Country and way of life of and culture of Nyangbal families, and the ways of early settlers who came to the river in the first half of the nineteenth century.
The late Uncle Ricky Cook narrates the signs, his contribution to this experience is an enduring cultural legacy for Nyangbal families and the wider community, with caring for Country and water and the environments it supports other important themes.
Contributions were also made by local historian Kate Gahan and local actors voicing early settlers, which were laid to rest in the old Ballina cemetery, now Pioneer Park.
Dr Gahan said the project highlights the layered histories of Nyangbal and settler-origin people which sit side-by-side along the river.
"These stories reflect thousands of years of Nyangbal peoples' connection to Country, as well as the complex histories that followed settlement," Dr Gahan said.
"It's a privilege to have worked with Nyangbal knowledge holders to bring these stories forward through a walk where people can hear, follow and reflect on stories told by local knowledge holders."
Ballina Shire Council mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the interpretive signage is an important community asset.
"This project brings to life our riverfront and shares stories that help people understand more about Ballina's history," Mayor Cadwallader said.
"The signage and Soundtrail will help people understand more about the places they're walking through, whether they're locals or visitors."
Destination and Economy Coordinator, Alanah Ward, said the combined upgrades strengthen Ballina's cultural and visitor offering.
"Visitors increasingly seek authentic, place-based experiences. Water Stories and the Soundtrail provide exactly that - a chance to learn through storytelling, landscape immersion, and cultural knowledge," Ms Ward said.
"It also aligns strongly with both state and regional visitor economy strategies that call for more meaningful experience-led tourism."
Visitors to the area can experience the Water Stories and Soundtrail by downloading the Soundtrails app, which uses location settings to automatically play each story as they walk through each storytelling zone.
The project was funded by the New South Wales Government's Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package - Arts and Cultural Assets Program (Create NSW), which is supporting the rebuild of arts and cultural infrastructure following the area's 2022 floods, including repairs to the Aboriginal Cultural Ways nodes in East Ballina.
