While excitement builds around the development of the Bundian Way, a lack of funding threatens its very existence.
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The future of the Bundian Way is fragile. Without urgent funding, key management jobs will cease.
- Noel Whittem, manager of Bundian Way
Even as the 2km “Story Walking Trail” section of the pathway – from Cocora Beach to Quarantine Bay, Eden – nears completion and politicians prepare to cut the red tape next Easter and usher in the tourists, key manager positions have failed to secure funding and may cease within months.
Bundian Way manager Noel Whittem said the project’s development is now under serious threat since an application for funding under the Commonwealth Indigenous Advancement Strategy failed late last year.
“The application requested necessary funds to extend the existing positions of the Land and Sea Country Coordinator at the Eden Local Area Land Council and my role,” Mr Whittem said.
“Existing funding for these positions are due to expire at Christmas this year and March 2016 respectively.”
Member for Bega Andrew Constance, a long-term supporter of the Bundian Way project, said he’s committed to finding a solution.
“I’m going to do absolutely everything I can to shore up the necessary project manager roles of the Bundian Way,” Mr Constance told the Eden Magnet.
“We cannot afford to have it slip particularly at such a delicate time in terms of its progression and I’m really keen to see the Commonwealth government step in and fund the roles.”
Mr Constance said personnel type funding is strictly a Commonwealth government concern, and said he would work with Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy to secure this funding.
“From everybody’s perspective this is a critical and important national project, not just local or regional,” Mr Constance said.
“I will talk to Dr Hendy about scope outside the Commonwealth Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) to shore this up quickly.”
ELALC Land and Sea Country Coordinator Les Kosez, whose job is also destined to evaporate, was shocked when IAS turned them down.
“It was so frustrating to receive the news after all the years of talking about the Bundian Way, and finally making solid progress with ClubGRANTS funding,” Mr Kosez said.
It seems astounding that after tens of thousands of years of existence, the future of this great ancestral pathway still lies on shaky ground.
