Susan Ryan MPIA
Strategic Planner, Golden Plains Shire
Susan, like many Australians, heritage is not from this country and after 12 years of local government within Arts and Cultural Services in Victorian’s eastern suburbs, her perspective of home was changing. The turning point was her studies and research at Deakin University; that opened her desire to create and discover new knowledge but changed her perspective of Country and planning for it. Now as a Strategic Planner, at Golden Plains Shire, Susan contributes not only to the growth of the Shire but growth with consideration to planning together for Country.
Laura Murphy
Strategic Planning Coordinator, Golden Plains Shire
Laura Murphy is the Coordinator of Strategic Planning at Golden Plains Shire. Laura has been with the Shire for 18 years, over which time she has contributed to much of the planning related to the growth of the Shire; while building a dynamic team, who take pride in working towards creating thriving communities. Laura loves the variation that comes with working in a peri urban setting, particularly given Golden Plains Shires location between the two regional cities of Ballarat and Geelong.
Partnering to Care for Country
Country is not easily understood by non-Indigenous people, as it doesn’t fall into the western concept of ownership. It is far more complex with multiple layers; it is physical and spiritual while going beyond what you can see; it’s hundreds of Countries across Australia rather than one nation we perceive, with interconnecting storylines across government boundaries. As planners with statutory obligations, every day we plan on Country to achieve a balanced outcome; but how do we recognise and value Indigenous knowledge as we reinvent the landscape to plan with Country.
Focused on Wadawurrung Country and Gulidjan Country of Eastern Maar, Golden Plains Shire’s Growing Places Strategy (Strategy) directs future growth in the Shire. It was an opportunity to make improvements and evolve our statutory and strategic obligations to better understand and respect the Wadawurrung and Gulidjan knowledge; ensuring cultural values are respected and protected. With a million hectares of Wadawurrung Country, it was quickly apparent that the competing resources and priorities of eleven Councils, would either delay the Strategy or it would proceed without a Wadawwurrung voice. Neither of these scenarios worked for a collaborative partnership in making Country good together.¹
From this realisation, the Wadawurrung Dja (Country) Cultural Heritage Planners Network (Network) was established. A Network creating the opportunity for relationships that would enable planners to listen while gaining a greater understanding of shared values and a shared respect for Country. It enabled Wadawurrung to have one voice across all planners in the eleven Councils, alongside their state government counterparts, to work together to make Country and Culture strong.² It would ultimately guide a conversation that would lead to the Strategy’s Cultural Heritage actions, underpinning ‘Nothing about us, without us’ in planning for Country.
¹(Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC), 2020)
²(Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC), 2020)
