Korrelocking Fire Project

In 2009 Kevan Davis, a Balladong Elder from Wyalkatchem, conducted a burn at Korrelocking reserve, near Wyalkatchem. Kevan was joined by Wheatbelt NRM’s previous Noongar Budjar Carer Trainee, Michael Hayden, and current trainee, Judd Davis (before he started his traineeship). Judd learnt a lot from Kevan about how to burn country properly, including: • when to burn country, • why it’s important to burn country, • how to determine when to burn; and • which species respond well to burning. Obtaining approval to burn at Korrelocking was a long process as there were many stakeholders involved and this was the first burn in the area using traditional Noongar knowledge, since the Wheatbelt was cleared for farming. Kevan had support from DEC, the Shire of Wyalkatchem and Wheatbelt NRM on the day. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia also partnered on the project. Since the burn Kevan and Judd have noticed many species returning to the site and Kevan would like to see traditional burning used regularly in bush management throughout the Wheatbelt. Traditional Aboriginal burning practices are vital to the health and regeneration of the Wheatbelt’s native vegetation. Many Australian plants and animals evolved to rely on these burning practices for their survival when Aboriginal people first arrived in Australia over 40,000 years ago.