The METRONET Byford Rail Extension in Western Australia is honouring and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja people, as works continue to preserve and identify heritage items of significance on the project.
A new, wider bridge will be built in place of the existing bridge over Wungong Brook, which is located on traditional lands.
Traditional Owners from the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja group have advised the project and identified the importance of traditional hunting and gathering grounds to the area.
Cultural monitors with connections to the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja areas have provided cultural advice during initial ground disturbance activities, in preparation for further works.
One of these monitors is Shane Gidgup, who has been monitoring the Wungong Brook rail bridge work area with his daughter Tahlia. Shane has a deep connection to this land, having grown up visiting his grandparents who lived along the Swan River.
For him, the Byford project is a chance to connect back to his roots, whilst ensuring the protection of heritage and culture.
“We enjoy being on this land and seeing all the wildlife using the Wungong Brook waterway, including, sacred king fisher birds, who have been catching fish in the water while we have been monitoring,” Shane said.
“Through conversations and discoveries made on the project site, we’re able to acknowledge and share the significance of site preservation.”
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