Darwin City Council – Australian Government Coastcare Award

Project Profile

Issues

Darwin City Council is in the running for a National Landcare Award for their work in restoring the dunes of Mindil Beach as part of the Greening Mindil Project. The work of Darwin City Council in partnership with the Larrakia people has contributed significantly to the cultural sustainability of the Mindil Beach area for future generations.

Project Detail

Darwin City Council is in the running for a National Landcare Award for its work in restoring the dunes of Mindil Beach as part of the Greening Mindil Project.

Lead by Anne Hammond, the Greening Mindil Project was supported by a group of more than 80 volunteers.

Situated three kilometres from Darwin City, Mindil Beach stretches along 1.3 kilometres of the Darwin Harbour coastline and is a popular destination for tourists and local community. The land is home to the Larrakia people and has significant cultural value and history, including traditional burial sites.

Created in partnership with the Larrakia people, the project was developed in response to the significant erosion, degradation and fence damage on the primary dunes of Mindil Beach and designed to savour the historical significance the land encompasses. The project directly supports Darwin City Council’s ‘Evolving Darwin Towards 2020’ Strategic Plan and works towards cultural sustainability.

The Greening Mindil Project is a continuation of a previous joint venture between Darwin City Council and Larrakia Nation. Darwin City Council partnered with a number of community and volunteer groups including Greening Australia, Rotary Club and Demmob and members of the local community to rectify the deterioration caused by human impact and storm water surges during the monsoon season.

The project culminated in a community event with over 80 community members volunteering their time. The event helped to raise public awareness and encourage community participation in future environmental protection activities. It also provided a great forum to educate the community on the serious effects that human activities can have on our natural environs and how the implications of coastal erosion can be better managed through re-vegetation, eradication of foreign weeds and reduction of human traffic. Greening Australia provided 2,000 native plant runners and 1,250 plugs, as well as technical expertise in the use of terracottem, a water saving product that expands when wet and holds in moisture.

The work undertaken as part of the Greening Mindil Project will allow the local community and future generations to continue enjoying the area. The project has helped to protect the biodiversity of the area through the removal of invasive weeds and the planting of native plants, the restoration of the beach access ways with an environmentally friendly ‘jettyplank’. The project also included the fencing of areas to assist native plant production.

The work of Darwin City Council in partnership with the Larrakia people has contributed significantly to the cultural sustainability of the Mindil Beach area for future generations.

The Darwin City Council project is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Darwin City Council Coastcare Award