Wadeye Bunngul, June 2023. Important ceremonies take place in Wadeye each year. The townsite includes male and female ceremonial grounds, and everyone must respect these sites, including visitors.

Margaret Pulchen, Marita Pultchen, Heather McRae, Bridget Pulchen and Kieran Wong

We need to do something for this country. We need to work together, get everyone together and work together.

Scenes from a series of community workshops, July 2023

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Ngurra Palyamaniny

Martu

Bemkanin – Wadeye Community Plan

Wadeye, also known as Port Keats, is located in the Northern Territory, 270km south-west of Darwin. The region has been home to Indigenous peoples for more than 40,000 years, primarily the Murrinh Patha language group, along with the Marritjevin, Marri Amu, Marri Ngarr, Magati-ge, and Menhthe peoples.

Today, there are approximately 20 clan groups living in the region. Culturally, the Kardu Diminin clan have ownership rights at Wadeye, and the other clans living in the township respect these rights. A population survey conducted in 2019 suggested that approximately 2500 people live in Wadeye.

Despite this rich cultural heritage, the community faces significant challenges, including overcrowded, poorly located housing and inadequate health infrastructure. Kardu Diminin Corporation (KDC) initiated this project to develop a community-led vision for Wadeye centred on their optimism and hope for the future.

KDC partnered with The Fulcrum Agency to develop a comprehensive Vision and Community Plan through a genuinely community-led process. The collaboration involved multiple trips to Wadeye over nine months for in-depth conversations, workshops, and extensive consultations. TFA’s role was to share technical knowledge that would enable the community to make informed decisions.

The collaboration brought together community members and key stakeholders—including other clans, government agencies, and service providers—to create a comprehensive dialogue under community leadership. The process acknowledged the Traditional Owner’s cultural authority and deep connection to Country while building their capacity to imagine and articulate their aspirations for future generations.

Through this collaborative process, the Wadeye community now has:

A comprehensive and aspirational Vision and Community Plan
Agreement among Traditional Owners and community members on potential changes to land use, development areas, accessibility improvements, and enhancements to public and communal spaces
A framework for redefining the township that moves beyond ad hoc planning to provide strategic direction for future development
Clear expectations that all stakeholders, including government agencies and service providers, will use this vision to frame their work and ensure alignment with Traditional Owners’ wishes
A foundation document that supports their aspiration to transition to a Township Lease model of land tenure.

Community members now have a clear framework for collective decision-making and genuine agency over their township’s future.

Location	Murrinh-patha Country
Partners	Kardu Diminin Corporation
Project Type	Community Masterplan
Completion	2023
Project Team	Kieran Wong, Heather MacRae