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Key details

Location
9-43 Chum Street, Golden Square, Bendigo
Dja Dja Wurrung Country

Project partners
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) Traditional Owners
City of Greater Bendigo
Environment Protection Authority

Policy objective
Remediation and Healing Country

Overview

In partnership with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA), Development Victoria is remediating the Chum Street site which is significantly degraded from past mining activities dating back to the 1850s.

Bringing former mining sites back to health – the healing of Country – is a key goal of the custodians of Country, DJAARA, in its Dhelkunya Dja Country Plan.

The site is one of Bendigo’s largest infill sites, with close proximity to Bendigo’s city centre, public transport, shopping facilities, schools and health services.

The remediation process will work to restore the health of the land, making it fit for future use that can benefit the Bendigo community.

Development Victoria will work closely with the local community, DJAARA, the EPA and City of Greater Bendigo to ensure the health and safety of neighbouring residents and the community is a priority during the works.

Once remediation is completed, the project has the potential to deliver new homes to support the growing needs of the Bendigo region.

Project location

9-43 Chum Street, Golden Square, Bendigo

FAQs

We respect and recognise the importance of this land to the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the custodians of all Dja Dja Wurrung land. The remediation of sites like Chum Street is of particular importance to address the legacy of past mining activities and the resulting contamination.

Bringing former mining sites back to health, the healing of upside-down Country, is a key goal of DJAARA’s Dhelkunya Dja (healing Country) Country Plan.

For First Peoples communities like DJAARA, connection to Country is essential to the spiritual and physical health and wellbeing of community.

Healing Country at the Chum Street site will involve works to make the site safe for the community and future use.

Activities will include remediation of soil affected by historic mining activities, completing capping of any historic mineshaft/s found and works to support some rectification and naturalisation of the creek that runs across the site.

A detailed Remediation Action Plan will be developed in collaboration with DJAARA, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the City of Greater Bendigo, to guide healing works.

Development Victoria will work closely with the local community, EPA, and the City of Greater Bendigo and DJAARA to ensure the health and safety of neighbouring residents and the community is treated as the main priority during the works.

Preliminary environmental and geotechnical works are expected to commence in late 2024. Works are expected to be completed in 2025, subject to site conditions.

It is important we undertake remediation and healing of Country before considering future opportunities for the site, such as the potential for housing.

Development Victoria will work with key stakeholders such as DJAARA and City of Greater Bendigo to determine potential uses for the site once remediation and healing of Country have occurred.

Development Victoria has consulted with DJAARA and Dja Dja Wurrung Elders to learn more about what the Chum Street site means to them and necessary healing of Country.

It is proposed that the partnership between DJAARA and Development Victoria continues through the project to ensure that the redevelopment of Chum Street can deliver on a key aspiration of DJAARA to Heal Country, alongside other aspirations outlined in DJAARA’s Dhelkunya Dja Country Plan.

Updated on 02 October 2024