Budj Bim World Heritage Nomination

Budj Bim Landscape

World Heritage Nomination

January 2017: Josh Frydenberg, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnball, Elder Aunt June Gill, Elder Aunt Laura Bell, Roma Britnell, Elder Aunt Sandra Onus and Dan Tehan.

In January 2017, the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premier of Victoria visited the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape to confirm Budj Bim Cultural Landscape onto the Australian World Heritage Tentative List.

The confirmation progressed work between the Budj Bim Sustainable Development Partnership, the Australian Government and the Victoria Government to build a formal world heritage nomination for the consideration of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and their World Heritage Committee.

In early 2018, the Budj Bim World Heritage Nomination was formerly submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

In September 2018, the UNCESCO World Heritage Expert visited the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape to experience the landscape and speak with communities and agencies who look after the Budj Bim National Park, the Budj Bim Indigenous Protected Area and the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area.

In February 2019, the Budj Bim World Heritage Nomination won the Institute of Public Administration Australia Leadership in the Public Sector Awards for Advancing Aboriginal Self-Determination.

Now in July 2019, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan to consider the proposed inscription of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Becoming Product Ready for Budj Bim as an Icon Visitor Destination.

Sustainable tourism development along the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape was significantly bolstered in 2016 and 2019 with the Victorian Government announcing its respective $8m and $5m investments for new community and visitor infrastructure along the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.

January 2016: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins announcing the Bracks Government’s initial $8m investment at Lake Condah.

The Victorian Government investment is based on the strategies, priorities and design principles which the Budj Bim Sustainable Development Partnership had produced through consultations with the Gunditjmara community, GMTOAC and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation.

The Budj Bim Master Plan was produced in 2013 with funds from Regional Development Victoria and Regional Development Australia.

The Budj Bim Master Plan Stages One and Two: Design Principles portfolio was produced in 2015 with funds from the Victorian Government Advancing Country Towns Project.

The Budj Bim Master Plan Stage One and Two Projects will see new visitor / community infrastructure at the following locations including:

New arrival and orientation space at the Tyrendarra Recreation Reserve.
New interpretative devices, pedestrian bridge, raised walkways and a realigned car park at the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area.
New interpretative devices and raised walkways at the Kurtonitj property.
New Traditional Aquaculture Interpretative Centre and management bridge at Lake Condah.
New cantilevered lookout, audio / visual interpretative devices and upgraded toilet facilities at the Budj Bim National Park.

The projects are governed through a Project Control Group with representation from land managers and government agencies across the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape including:

Aboriginal Victoria – Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
Glenelg Shire Council.
Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.
Moyne Shire Council.
Parks Victoria.
Regional Development Victoria.
Tyrendarra Recreation Reserve Committee.
Visit Victoria.
Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation.

The Budj Bim projects are active with finalising architectural designs, engineering, environmental assessments, cultural heritage management planning, preparing the required permits and tender packages which are scheduled for release by December 2019.

Construction across the Budj Bim locations will commence in early 2020 and be ready for the 2021 visitor season.

January 2017: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnball and Premier of Victoria Dan Andrews with the Budj Bim Rangers at Lake Condah.

January 2016: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins announcing the Bracks Government’s initial $8m investment at Lake Condah.