The NSW Department of Planning and Environment would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this plan applies. We acknowledge and pay our respect to Elders past and present of the Dharug, Gundungurra and Dharawal nations.
The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) acknowledges thousands of generations of continuous Aboriginal connection to the land that makes up Western Sydney. Aboriginal people hold deep connection, knowledge, understanding and custodianship of the landscape.
We are committed to working with Aboriginal communities in Western Sydney to co-develop a 10-year Caring for Country – Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy.
Draft Caring for Country Strategy
The department has released the draft Caring for Country Strategy – Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy (PDF, 3.7 MB) and is seeking feedback from Western Sydney’s Aboriginal communities.
The strategy aims to:
- support economic participation for Aboriginal people
- promote Aboriginal culture and knowledge
- help enable Traditional Custodians and Aboriginal people maintain distinctive relationships with the land, waters, and sky in Western Sydney
- improve the health and wellbeing of Country.
The draft strategy is focused on 4 themes and 15 actions that have been co-developed with the Aboriginal communities of Western Sydney.
How can I contribute to the strategy?
If you are a Traditional Custodian, Aboriginal community member, service provider, business, or organisation in Western Sydney, we would like to hear from you.
We invite you to submit feedback on the strategy by emailing [email protected] until Friday 24 February 2023. If you would like help in submitting your feedback or find out about alternative ways to submit feedback, phone 02 9585 6060.
Workshops and meetings
We will hold targeted meetings and workshops to seek feedback on the draft strategy. If you would like to participate in these sessions or get support in providing feedback, please email [email protected] or contact us by phone on 02 9585 6060.
Your feedback will inform the final strategy and ensure Aboriginal people help guide the future of Western Sydney. A summary of the feedback will be shared with those who contributed and on our website.
View video on the CPCP Caring for Country Strategy information session.
Previous engagement
Since mid-2021 the department has been engaging with Traditional Custodians, Aboriginal Land Councils, local councils, Registered Aboriginal Parties, local community members, businesses, organisations, and service providers in Western Sydney to develop the draft strategy.
This work builds on our previous engagement with Aboriginal communities in Western Sydney since 2019 that helped us develop the final CPCP.
The consultation outcomes report (PDF, 5.1 MB) provides a summary of what we’ve heard from community so far that informed the development of the draft strategy.
What’s in the strategy?
These fact sheets outline specific sections of the strategy that may be important for you or your organisation:
- Benefits for Traditional Custodians (PDF, 672 KB)
- Benefits for members of Aboriginal communities (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Benefits for Local Aboriginal Land Councils (PDF, 743 KB)
- Benefits for local Aboriginal businesses (PDF, 1 MB)
Artwork for the Caring for Country Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy
We are looking for an Aboriginal artist, designer or collective of artists, based in Western Sydney or with cultural connections to the area, to create artwork for the final strategy.
If you are interested, please read this information sheet and email [email protected] for the application form. You must submit an expression of interest to [email protected] by 27 January 2023.
NSW Aboriginal Land Council Cumberland Plain Grant Program
The department is partnering with NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) to deliver a $1 million grant program for the three Western Sydney Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) within the CPCP’s area: Deerubbin, Tharawal and Gandangara.
The program aims to:
- support LALCs to assess and manage biodiversity, culture and heritage on Aboriginal-owned lands
- empower LALCs to deliver cultural and conservation outcomes on their land
- build capacity within the LALCs to deliver natural resource management services.
To find out more about the program, visit the NSWALC website
Caring for Country Business Development Grant Program
The department is partnering with Yarpa NSW Indigenous Business and Employment Hub (Yarpa) to deliver a grant program for Aboriginal businesses.
The objectives of the program are:
- to support Aboriginal-owned businesses to build capacity and capability to ensure they are best-placed to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the early implementation phase of the CPCP and over the next three decades
- to support Aboriginal-owned businesses to become tender ready and have the ability to compete for future tenders under the CPCP.
To find out more about the program, visit the Yarpa website.
Applications close Friday 9 June 2023.