Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley cultural centre to employ Wiradjuri community

Guests can book with Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation representative Aunty Sharon Riley, who has a strong connection with the landscape and extensive knowledge of rock art and places of cultural significance.

They will have the choice of a signature tour of the EOOWV conservation reserve as well as private tours of the Aboriginal protected place Maiyingu Marragu (The Hands), located at the top of the Wolgan Gap.

EEOWV special projects manager Brendan Millett said, while the resort was in its initial stages of tourism experiences, Emirates also wanted to assist with local employment in the area.

"The plan is to move tourism at The Hands along with an Indigenous ranger program, we'll be able to create jobs but also protect the cultural values of the land," he said.

Mr Millett said the Indigenous rangers would be employed by the cultural site and would work between there and the Emirates.

He said Emirates wanted to offer job opportunities for members of the Wiradjuri community, while doing something they are passionate about.

"We will be able to create jobs but also protect the cultural values of the land," he said.

Aunty Sharon Riley said it was important to give Wiradjuri people in the Central West an opportunity to look after their country and build their confidence in the employment field.

"The idea is to create jobs but at the same time protecting the cultural values of the land, getting people trained up to do different jobs.

"We want to teach them things like cultural and fire mapping, what they'll have in their reserves, the flora and fauna and so on," she said.

Ms Riley said the centre and the Indigenous ranger program would open up an array of jobs including food and beverage staff, administration and consultants and contractors.

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"Construction alone will create jobs for laborers in the community for those in field type work including pest management and fencing.

"People will have the opportunity to work along side the Aboriginal community, so you've got land management, a team of people getting skilled up to get job ready and jobs for people to run the centre," she said.

She also said the centre would make an income to put money back into it.

"We can make money and put money back into projects with the landscape and that's pretty valuable," she said.

Ms Riley said there was a need to have a presence up at The Hands.

"At the moment there's no one up there which leaves it open for reckless people doing stupid things like putting graffiti over artworks which has now happened twice.

"A lot of people said we should put a toilet up there.. well that's a good idea but who is going to manage the toilet - it would get destroyed," she said.

Mr Millett said once a presence was up there Mingaan and Emirates could do some really good things.

"We hope it doesn't take too long because everything deteriorates and the longer we leave it the worse it gets.

"We did an artwork restoration up there two years ago and all of that work has been destroyed. We have to do it again," he said.

Ms Riley said people unfortunately thought The Hands was a good camping spot and most did not understand the cultural significance of the place.

"If they knew the significance of it they definitely wouldn't be camping there, even if you tell people on the day it's not a good idea, there is a huge level of disrespect," she said.

She said there had been a need for serious fencing over the years and a lot went into maintaining the land.

"It's hard work and heavy work, but it's good work. We got a little bit of funding to start some track work to help pull the erosion up and control access to the art site but then the funding ran out and the track stopped.

"We need funding. I think we'll get there eventually, but with the work we have done you can feel some sort of presence up there," she said.

Ms Riley said the day she put a slip-rail up to stop the campers was one of the best feelings in the world.

"I clicked that padlock, it was the best feeling, if people wanna go in there they can walk.

"There was a little possum sitting in the tree and I said, well you can all rest easy tonight," she said.

Mr Millett said realistically Emirates and Mingaan wanted to have the cultural centre up and running within three to five years.

"We've got to get the funds in place, there's a lot of work to be done but it will be worth it," he said.

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