Westport is committed to working closely with Aboriginal people to ensure that their values are recognised and drive planning decisions, and that their traditional ownership of the lands and seas is respected.
Derbal Nara also known as Cockburn Sound, is an enriched area known for its cultural significate sites, knowledge, stories and songlines of the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja Noongar peoples.
The Westport Program footprint extends into Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs). Beyond the physical footprint, the port and network of road and rail will reach across our State and provide a gateway to domestic and international trade.
Westport is now in Stage 4 - definition and delivery, and we will continue to work closely with the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja Regional Aboriginal Corporations and the Noongar Advisory Group.
The Noongar Advisory Group requests that they be acknowledged as ‘Noongar people’.
“Our Groups are united in ensuring Westport is a successful project that recognises the historical impact of colonisation and marginalisation, and provides outcomes that connect our culture and environment, build cultural collaboration and social unity, and support economic and capacity building.”
Westport’s Noongar Advisory Group members
Developed in partnership with our Noongar Advisory Group, the Westport Noongar Opportunities Strategy will guide the program to ensure benefits are maximised for Noongar communities with the development of the port and supply chain infrastructure.
We report on the progress of the Westport Noongar Opportunities Strategy biannually to track been achievements against our strategic objectives.
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In collaboration with the Westport Noongar Advisory Group, Westport commenced the Cultural and Spiritual Values Mapping project in April 2023.
Westport partnered with Winyama, an Aboriginal-owned and operated business specialising in location intelligence, to capture and map Cultural and Spiritual values. A local Noongar Science Facilitator also assisted with process.
Winyama interviewed nine knowledge holders identified by Westport’s Noongar Advisory Group to document marine and terrestrial sites of significance, and the stories connected to them.
Westport now have a comprehensive map of the cultural and spiritual values within Cockburn Sound and the surrounding area. This includes songlines, historical sites, native flora and fauna, and contemporary uses within the mapping bounds.
Westport received permission to use the data, so that locations of cultural significance could be considered during the design process.
In 2022, Westport commissioned Noongar artist Peter Farmer to create an artwork exploring the journey of Westport and the Noongar Community.
Westport came together with the Noongar Advisory Group for guidance on the inspirations for the artwork.
"The three lines throughout the artwork represent our journey together through the ‘past’, ‘present’ and ‘future’. It includes strong Noongar Totems for each of the canvases.
“This includes the Yonga for resilience and tenacity. It also includes the special Noongar Ocean Totems that are of great significance to the region and the Noongar people.”
