Land Trusts Support

Balkanu support to Indigenous Land Trusts is primarily focussed on capacity building where we assist with evaluation of management and governance systems, compliance with legislative reporting requirements, risks assessment, new project development, funding support for potential business opportunities.  We review their needs and conjointly with Traditional Elders, Balkanu will facilitate training workshops that enable Land Trusts members to gain necessary skills to achieve their aspirations in a changing environment.  With the handover of land under Land Reform, Balkanu is also involved with the process of assisting Land Owners build up their capacity to manage their lands and National Parks jointly with State Government agencies.  Balkanu facilitated resource development that enabled Traditional Owners group to become more effective in operational and land management skills. Our tasks involve resource development that enable Land Trusts members to gain wider knowledge in sustainability management through ecological assessments in collaboration with research scientists, ranger groups and other land owners. We provide strategic advice on collaborative programs with corporate sponsors or Government agencies and facilitate as project managers to ensure the success and long term benefits of such initiatives. In addition we also advise on land use and property management, assist with policy development and implementation of action plans for improved management of their Land and Sea country.  

Balkanu provided support to Land Trusts (such as KULLA , Lama Lama, Apuduthama, Munburra Land Trusts) in the building up of their capacity to manage their lands and National Parks jointly with State Government agencies.  Balkanu facilitated resource development that enabled Traditional Owners group to become more effective in operational and land management skills. Key outcomes were improved communications between beneficiaries, stakeholders and Government agencies, effective deliver of contracts for works and services, an in-depth understand of natural and cultural values of the National Park under joint management, implementation of organised work plans for ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the land.  Other outcomes include

• Provide training to land trust executive members in governance of the land trust.
• Undertake participatory planning with land trust members for future activities of the land trust.
• Assist land trust members to identify business opportunities.
• Assist with establishing leases on the trusts.
• Assist land trust members to establish corporations where required.
• Undertake feasibility studies for potential businesses in the land trust area.
• Develop business plans for feasible businesses in the land trust area.
• Provide training and mentoring in business management.

Some special projects that Balkanu acted as project manager were

• Support to Apudthama Land Trust with implementation and management the hunting policy, bringing awareness to the public, facilitation of meetings to build up skills necessary the initiative’s success.  
• Support to Strathgordon Aboriginal Corporation to manage their country and protect its sensitive riparian/coastal ecological landscape and biological diversity. Balkanu assisted Poonkoo Traditional Owners to reintroduce traditional land management through on ground activities such as traditional fire use to control pests and weeds and promote best practice in natural resource management.
• Support to Kalpowar Land Trust to project manage the installation of rainwater tanks to store rainwater that is collected from the roof of the Kalpowar Homestead and Bizant Ranger Base. This project involved communication and cooperation from the community, relevant skills training, sourcing of materials and workers in the construction process. This project was able to save 191,800 litres of water each year and extraction of water from sensitive freshwater lagoon was no longer required.
• Support to Normanby Aboriginal Corporation to develop a strategic plan appropriate to identify and protect significant sites in Normanby region. Balkanu provided assistance in planning, risk management and seeking approvals and consultations with Traditional Elders and the wider public. The task of project management covered contracting of Consultants and local stakeholders, procurement, and managing all logistics to remote sites, conducting investigative surveys, recording and reporting. Key achievements were documentation and photographs of over 27 sites surveyed and the information registered on the Queensland Cultural Heritage database.
• Support to Sea Country Management for Aboriginal clan groups, e.g. Juunjuwarra, Jajikal, Kapay Kuyan, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Umpila.  Balkanu co-ordinated successful programs for On country cultural heritage surveys;  Development and implementation of turtle and dugong permit systems; Improved capacity building and Land Trust management; Establishment of hunting rules protocols; Engagement with the wider community to institute rules for protection and long term sustainability of their sea country.