In a significant step for environmental stewardship and Indigenous land management, the Nari Nari Tribal Council acquired a 33,000-hectare property in New South Wales in 2026. This land includes most of the Great Cumbung Swamp, a vital wetland habitat within Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin.
- 33,000 hectares including Great Cumbung Swamp now owned by Nari Nari Tribal Council
- Wetland supports thousands of waterbirds and several threatened species
- Legal protection committed for 16,000 hectares with focus on ecological restoration
What happened
In January 2026, the Nari Nari Tribal Council (NNTC) purchased a large property containing most of the Great Cumbung Swamp, situated at the end of the Lachlan River in New South Wales. The property spans 33,000 hectares and features a blend of open water, reed beds, and river red gum woodlands. Prior to this sale, the land had experienced decades of logging and cattle grazing which impacted its ecological health.
The purchase followed joint fundraising by NNTC and conservation NGO The Nature Conservancy (TNC), who together aimed to halt agricultural intensification and ecosystem degradation. Since TNC and its partners initially bought the property in 2019, grazing has reduced, allowing native vegetation to recover significantly. Now under long-term Indigenous ownership, the NNTC plans to maintain permanent protection for 16,000 hectares and further enhance the land’s ecological status.
Why it feels good
The Great Cumbung Swamp serves as a crucial refuge during dry periods across the Murray-Darling Basin, providing habitat to about 11,500 waterbirds annually and sheltering several threatened species, including the Australasian Bittern, Murray cod, and southern bell frog. The swamp is recognized for its environmental significance on local, national, and potentially international levels.
Transitioning ownership to the Nari Nari Tribal Council is a promising development because it combines strong cultural connections to the land with a commitment to conservation. The NNTC’s stewardship builds on their adjacent conservation management experience and reflects a culturally-led approach to ecological restoration, wildlife protection, and landscape-scale recovery.
What to enjoy or watch next
Looking forward, the NNTC’s plans include improving the ecological health of the entire property and legally safeguarding a significant portion of wetland and riverine corridor habitats. This will help ensure the habitat remains thriving and resilient for species that depend on it.
Supporters of conservation and Indigenous land management can watch for updates on ongoing restoration efforts and the long-term impacts of this landmark transfer. The success of this project may inspire similar partnerships where Indigenous organizations lead the way in protecting and reviving vital ecosystems.