Wardang Island/Waraldi Infrastructure Revitalisation Project

The Wardang Island/Waraldi Infrastructure Revitalisation Project is being delivered by the South Australian Government, jointly funded, in collaboration with the Australian Government. This project is being delivered in close consultation with local Aboriginal people and communities, through the Aboriginal Lands Trust, the Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation and the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

This project comprises of the construction of a boat landing facility, the removal of asbestos and demolition of 19 abandoned buildings and construction of new building facilities to accommodate Indigenous Rangers and the community.

This $4.5 million project was delivered by the South Australian Government, funded in partnership with the Australian Government, and in close consultation with local Aboriginal people and communities.

This project will acknowledge the island’s traditional owners, provide a safe and practical access to the island and enable practices to sustain the island’s natural habitat and environment.

The old Wardang Island boat landing facility which was demolished in 2007 due to its deteriorating condition.

Latest News

Major works for the Wardang Island/Waraldi Infrastructure Revitalisation Project were completed in June 2023.

In May 2023, Aboriginal artworks that acknowledge significant Narungga totems, developed by local Aboriginal Artist Kevin Kropinyeri with Narungga youth from local schools (Point Pearce Aboriginal School, Maitland Area School and Maitland Lutheran School), were installed on the piles of the new boat landing facility.

Further works to install CCTV cameras and Narrunga interpretive signage works at the boat landing facility will be undertaken in the coming months. Management of the boat landing facility is intended to be handed over to the Aboriginal Lands Trust, who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and management of the facility.

Read the latest Project Update

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Background

Wardang Island/Waraldi is an island located 10 kilometres west of Port Victoria on the mid-west coast of Yorke Peninsula. The island itself is under the guardianship, as land holders, of the Aboriginal Lands Trust, who represent the traditional owners of the area, the Narungga people.

Boat Landing Facility

In 2007, the State Government demolished the old jetty on Wardang Island/Waraldi due to its deteriorated and unsafe condition. Since then, the only way to access the island is by beach landing which presents both a safety and practical challenge for all boat users. Currently beach landings occur to get people and goods on and off the island. The new landing facility will support the future development of the island and give safe access to all those coming and going from the island. It is expected that a new landing facility will encourage greater access to the island, to enable sharing of knowledge and culture for all Narungga people

Building Works

Multiple dilapidated buildings were situated on Wardang Island/Waraldi which were used for sand mining on the island during the 1940s and 1950s. Substantial asbestos contamination was identified in a number of these buildings which are in very poor condition and were subsequently fenced off as a precautionary measure. The Australian Government has identified the significance of this issue and have pushed to ensure the island can appropriately accommodate the Narungga community.

Project Scope

The scope of the project included:

Design and construction of a new boat landing facility on Wardang Island/Waraldi.
Design and construction of an unsealed approximately 20 metre x 20 metre hard stand area.
Removal of asbestos and demolition of 19 abandoned buildings.
Design and construction of new building facilities for accommodation for Indigenous Rangers and the local community on Wardang Island/Waraldi.
Handover of the ownership of the new facility to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on completion of construction. The Aboriginal Lands Trust will be responsible for ongoing maintenance and management of the facility.

Further information

If you have any further enquiries, please contact dit.engagement@sa.gov.au or telephone 1300 794 880.