Discover the CLLMM Research Centre's Community Advisory Forum (RCAF) and its impactful individuals. This month, we explore the motivations behind Richard Owen’s participation.
What does the CLLMM region mean to you?
I have lived in the CLLMM Region for almost 45 years, either right at the Murray Mouth or close to it along the Goolwa Channel below the Goolwa Barrages. Across that whole time I have been involved in environmental restoration work, particularly on Kumarangk Hindmarsh Island.
It was where my introduction into First Nations culture began, especially Ngarrindjeri culture, at the time of the Hindmarsh Island bridge fiasco.
I have seen the river in all its moods, drought and flood, seen the mouth close for the first time in recorded history, watched as the mouth shifted towards and away from Goolwa, seen and heard the dredging of the mouth to keep the tidal prism continue, all driven by the natural processes of river, ocean, wind and longshore drift.
I have watched as Western, materialist, culture stood by and allowed the processes of degradation to escalate across the CLLMM Region. I have seen all levels of government fail the river, through greed, pushing the river to its limits, through “sustainable diversion limits” and such like, understanding little, respecting nothing.
What do you think are the greatest issues facing the region in relation to climate change?
Disconnected landscapes prevent the adaptation of vegetation to changing climate conditions. We aim to reconnect landscapes to promote this adaptation occurring. This remains a huge problem across the CLLMM Region where, despite over 25 years of work, the proportion of land revegetated is still less than 10%.
Our methodologies of revegetation also work against this occurring, where revegetating by patchwork seems to be the modus operandi. Revegetation needs to occur continually with species richness improving at the same time. All opportunities must be taken to increase the size of areas being revegetated and reconnected. Farmers need to be encouraged to surrender land and this ought to be reconnected using roadsides, fence lines and other vacant land.
Predicted reduced freshwater flows in the MD Basin must mean that water extraction must reduce to maintain water availability in the MDB for the health of the river.
Rising sea levels here and locally will mean incursions of saline water will push further and further into the Lakes and upstream of Wellington.
Why did you want to join the Advisory Forum of the Research Centre and how do you think the CLLMM Research Centre (CLMM RC) can help the region?
One reason only, so that the local people who really care, could help inform the “experts” about future actions needing to be taken.
What do you hope for the future of the CLLMM region?
That local people’s knowledge and wisdom, like that of First Nations, will drive this centre’s work and that this will be understood to take a very long time to achieve. This region will be totally changed by climate change, probably far more than any other region in the MDB. The implications of this will be far reaching, affecting Adelaide and all other towns in this state dependent on the river for potable water in South Australia. We must reduce our reliance on the river for water and reduce growth.
Dive into Science! The augmented reality sandbox based at the CLLMM Research Centre in Goolwa is an educational tool that is used to display information in a new unique way. But what is augmented reality? Augmented reality changes your surroundings by adding digital elements to your live view, so when you push and pull the sand in the sandbox it responds and changes your reality, and you see changes in the contour. The contouring scenario on the sandbox is actually the baseplate for most augmented reality sandbox setups and will be developed to suit and be specific to the CLLMM Research Centre’s research program.
The next steps of the sandbox will include an interactive map feature showing water flow and water quality parameters across the region and beyond. The team will use live data to show water flow through the Murray-Darling Basin traveling into South Australia’s Murray River and then into the CLLMM region. Users will be able to scan over markers on a map to open specific data collected at that point. As the project develops, we will have opportunities to have input in future sandbox scenarios, so keep an eye out for more coming soon!
The Goyder Institute for Water Research’s Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre is delighted to welcome Kyla McHughes to the team. Kyla will be starting her role as First Nations Engagement Officer at the Research Centre, replacing outgoing team member Nathan Hartman, who is pursuing further education.
Kyla will be continuing the development of the Centre’s collaborations with the First Nations people of the CLLMM region, building on her dedication to sharing her culture and language.
“As a proud and strong Ramindjeri/Ngarrindjeri woman, I am driven to support local First Nations Peoples to embrace their identity through cultural re-engagement, sharing of knowledge and Ngarrindjeri language” Kyla said. “I’m so excited to be joining the team at the CLLMM Research Centre to build the Centre’s cultural connections, facilitate First Nations involvement in sharing and creating knowledge, and ensuring cultural aspects are incorporated into all of the Centre’s activities.”
Director of the Goyder Institute for Water Research, Dr Alec Rolston, warmly welcomed Kyla to the team “The Goyder Institute and CLLMM Research Centre teams are delighted Kyla is joining us and very much look forward to working with her. Incorporating First Nations perspectives is critical for all of our work at the Research Centre and Kyla’s enthusiasm for First Nations culture and language to help us achieve our work in the CLLMM region and beyond. Kyla’s previous experiences in running her own cultural consultancy business embedding Ngarrindjeri language and culture into communities and landscapes will be so valuable for our work.”
Kyla will be beginning her role on 8 August and can’t wait to get started” My mi:wi (spirit) is full when I am out on country. Healthy Country – healthy people, Healthy river – healthy people, Healthy Spirit – healthy person. I believe it is all of our job to work together to preserve our environment, biodiversity and cultural heritage for future generations” she said. The CLLMM Research Centre was established on 1 July 2023 to work with community and First Nations investigate the impacts of climate change in the Coorong, lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region.