Boongaree Reconciliation Garden

Engagement is underway with key Aboriginal stakeholders about the proposed Aboriginal Reconciliation Garden at Boongaree.

Draft plans for a Reconciliation Garden design have been drawn based on initial ideas from local Aboriginal people (in 2022), and we are currently seeking further feedback about these plans.

Conversations will continue with Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Traditional Custodians, and local Elders to seek feedback and ideas. We will also be talking with wider local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Shoalhaven in the coming months. These conversations will continue throughout 2024.

Council officers are preparing to recommence engagement with key Aboriginal stakeholders about the proposed Aboriginal reconciliation garden at Boongaree.

Engagement activities related to this project were placed on hold in late 2022, following a successful National Tree Day planting event held on the site of the proposed reconciliation garden in August 2022.

Engagement activities remained on hold throughout 2023, to allow sufficient time for the national referendum on constitutional recognition and the Uluru Statement from the Heart (the Voice) to occur.

Work to recommence engagement activities for this project follows on from an interim report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council, held on 27 November 2023, about the sequencing of future stages at Boongaree. At this meeting, Council resolved:

• That the sequencing of future stages at Boongaree requires further consideration because of revised cost estimates and site constraints.
• To undertake engagement activities with sporting groups that use the existing sportsgrounds and amenities at Boongaree, including the Touch Football Club, Cricket Club, Soccer Club and Rugby League Club.
• To undertake engagement activities with Aboriginal stakeholders, including local Aboriginal land councils, Elders and Aboriginal communities with a connection to lands and waters in and around Berry, in relation to the concept design for the proposed reconciliation garden.

The outcomes of these engagement activities will assist Council to agree on priorities for the delivery of future stages at Boongaree.

For more information, or to provide feedback on the delivery of future stages at Boongaree, please contact the Open Space & Recreation Planning team on 1300 293 111, or council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au.

We will continue to publish further updates to this page. You can subscribe to receive project updates directly to your inbox by providing your email address in the ‘Stay Informed’ box in the top right corner of this screen.

Landscape plans for a Reconciliation Garden are currently being revised, based on community engagement and stakeholder input provided in mid-2022.

Further direct engagement with key Aboriginal stakeholders, Elders, and Aboriginal communities regarding updated concept plans will commence shortly.

We will continue to keep you updated by posting updates to this page as we progress through each stage.

For an overview of the Boongaree project’s progress, please visit the Boongaree Get Involved web page.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay tuned for more exciting developments at Boongaree.

At the 6 April 2022 consultation, the group expressed the need for the Aboriginal Community to have further involvement within the design process. Council was informed by the Community prior and throughout this consultation. This information was utilised to create the first plan conceptualised for discussion. The weather has been very poor throughout this consultation period and as a result, consultations have been held at the Berry School of Arts. The participants of the consultation have expressed their desire to go on-site and stake out the infrastructure in order to have an idea of where specific items will be situated. This option will be available to Elders and an invitation to the rest of the project stakeholders will be extended.

A design concept will now be compiled and provided to Elders for review. This concept is a cumulative result of all of the Community consultation. Once comment has been made on the concept; further investigations, exhibitions, then endorsement will occur prior to proceeding to delivery.

At the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (AAC) Meeting on 22 March 2022 it was resolved:

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1. Are informed of the background and current status of the Boongaree Reconciliation Garden Project.

2. Participate in discussion with Council staff and provide advice for the concept design of a Reconciliation Garden at Boongaree.

3. Nominate Jared Brown and the Community Capacity Builder – Aboriginal as representatives (and connection between the AAC Members) to be included in the Project Stakeholder Group that the Committee believes would add cultural value and depth to this project.

You can view the full minutes on Council's Agendas and Minutes web page.