Ltyentye Apurte Rangers

Traditional owners and Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) residents were concerned about the protection of significant water sites on the Santa Teresa Aboriginal Land Trust.

In response, we secured funds from the federal Community Water Grants program in 2006 to fence spring-fed waterholes to exclude feral animals and to subsequently test water quality. Community Development Employment Program (CDEP, now defunct) participants employed by the Ltyentye Apurte Community Government Council worked on the project in collaboration with us, Greening Australia’s Water for Life program, the NT Parks and Wildlife Service and Tangentyere Council Landcare.

The project’s success generated community interest in broadening the duties of the CDEP land management crew to include feral animal management, with our support.

Further funding through Territory Natural Resource Management (TNRM) allowed such activities to continue throughout 2008. The participant enthusiasm and capability that developed over this early period provided the foundation for a more permanent, cohesive and well-resourced ranger group from 2009, principally supported by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation’s Real Jobs program.