Introducing BIIK – actively caring for Taungurung Country
October 16, 2024
Many people who are familiar with Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) – the recognised Aboriginal Party for the Taungurung Nation – will know that we have two businesses with similar names operating on Taungurung Country. wawa biik (meaning hello Country) is the cultural experiences business offering guided tours on Country led by Taungurung guides and BIIK is TLaWC’s natural resource management business that is actively healing Country. BIIK undertakes a holistic approach to heal Country by integrating traditional knowledge led by the Taungurung Community with scientific methods. Their aim is to revitalise Taungurung Country by addressing the underlying issues of unhealthy landscapes rather than just addressing the symptoms. We chat to BIIK Director Jason Laverty to understand more about the important work they’re doing on Country.
Tell us about yourself and your background
Wawa, I grew up on a beef farm in North East Victoria backing onto the Great Dividing Range. I enjoyed the freedom of my childhood spending time exploring the creeks and forests of the area. This led to me studying Science and then Forestry at University and an amazing forestry career that took me across Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales before a career change into Conservation Land management. I worked for Australian Wildlife Conservancy managing Mornington/Marion Downs and Tablelands properties in the Kimberly WA and then Western River Refuge on Kangaroo Island SA before taking up a role with BIIK for the Taungurung Land and Waters Council. I am enjoying the opportunity to apply my knowledge and a deep passion for land management to guide practice that helps heal and care for Taungurung Country. It is a privilege to work with and for the Taungurung People.
Why was BIIK established?
BIIK is guided by TLaWC’s Cultural Land Management Strategy and the vision of Taungurung Community for Country. We share the belief that Country is the centre of Community and Culture. We work to heal and revitalise Country while recognising and honouring the intrinsic connection between people, place and landscape.
What are TLAWC’s statutory obligations as a Registered Aboriginal Party with regards to cultural heritage?
The TLaWC RAP unit is responsible for the preservation, protection, and conservation of Taungurung traditional cultural materials and cultural heritage sites within Taungurung Country. TLaWC is also responsible for conducting archaeological surveys that inform Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs) and Cultural Heritage Permits and ensure we have the ability to investigate, protect and register the cultural heritage sites identified on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register (ACHRIS).
What services does BIIK offer?
We collaborate with public and private agencies to design and deliver land management activities including landscape restoration and habitat improvement measures, weed management, specialist flora and fauna monitoring and management and fire hazard assessment and burn preparation. BIIK honours the cultural heritage and relationships that define the Taungurung People and their Country.
Tell us about the BIIK team
The BIIK team has extensive land management experience in planning and applying works across Australia across the public and private sector. BIIK values and maintains strong partnerships with Victorian Government Departments and Agencies. Our crew are highly trained in remote access works, chainsaw operations, weed surveying and management and fauna monitoring. We are dedicated to best practices in caring for Taungurung Country while prioritising safety standards at all times. We feel very honoured to be part of the journey in creating special places for Taungurung generations. BIIK has worked on many projects of late, we've outlined a few below.
Hughes Creek Hill Bushland Reserve Habitat Improvement
BIIK is working with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to deliver habitat improvement at Hughes Creek Hill Bushland Reserve. We consider this project an opportunity to blend cultural consultation with ecological components of the project to enact our commitment to culturally informed practice on Country. The planned ecological methods involve creation of survey data capturing hollow-bearing trees to map their profile across the reserve, then installation of nest boxes at appropriate locations across the site and monitoring their use by local fauna in the future.
Deberra (Bogong Moth) monitoring project
Seasonal Deberra presence in the Alps has provided the BIIK crew with a great opportunity to become involved in Deberra surveys. We worked with Latrobe University and participating in their survey program collecting presence data from the Mt Buffalo area over the warmer months. This involves deployment of moth traps on site, and counting moths in the trap retrieval early the following morning. Image: Tamara Wilson setting up moth trap.
Flood Recovery activities
BIIK crew planted 900 plants at the Knowsley site in 2023 as part of the revegetation program to address bank stability issues caused by the flood event in October 2022. The key outcome of this work was to increase native vegetation in the riparian zone and to stabilise the banks and mitigate further erosion. 1,160 plants were incorporated into flood recovery activities at Molesworth and Cheshunt. Image of BIIK crew member Cheihk Diagne setting up tree guards
Trawool weed management and track works
BIIK was proud to take part in the construction and ongoing maintenance works of the Gawarn Baring Track at Trawool from 2022 to 2024. BIIK was engaged by Goulburn Water Valley back in 2022 to carry out the treatment of the area for blackberries and other invasive species and has continued improving the site for the use of the public during the year. This collaboration has delivered a positive impact on the walking track by protecting and caring for the landscape and waterway health using land management practices.
Get in touch with Biik Land Management team via email: wawa@biik.com.au
BIIK is a not-for-profit, 100% Aboriginal controlled enterprise and certified with Supply Nation.