Taken from the Department and Environment and Heritage IPA Newsletter. Issue One – 2004

The Newest IPA

Tyrendarra was officially declared as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) on 12 December at a function attended by Dr Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, who signed on behalf of the Australian Government. The new IPA was registered on the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD) from that date. Tyrendarra is the second IPA to be declared in Victoria.

Tyrendarra was purchased in 1998 by the ATSIC Regional Council on behalf of Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation. The property covers 248 ha in the Victorian Volcanic Plains bioregion, an area rated as Very High Priority for the creation of new conservation reserves, and has significant natural heritage values. Tyrendarra includes important remnants of Indigenous engineering works involving weirs, channels and eel traps as well as the remains of circular stone dwellings indicating intensive occupation and aquaculture. Tyrendarra is located on Darlot Creek, which flows from Lake Condah situated 20km further north.

Funding from the IPA Program for the coming year will support Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation to implement their management plan for the IPA. Planned work includes fencing repair, upgrade of walking tracks, installation of signage, weed and feral animal control, developing a revegetation program. Work will also be undertaken on the conservation of the unique cultural heritage of the property by protecting the remnant stone structures from further deterioration.