THE
RAPID CREEK VILLAGE PROJECT
Written Feb 1994, Updated April 2014.
The
Larrakia locality Gurambai (Rapid Creek) is both a suburban region and a unique
urban-based watershed and creek system within the city of Darwin in the
Northern Territory of Australia.
Family
Nexus (refer other background notes), in association with intercultural people
of the Rapid Creek Community, are developing (1994) a micro-project to nurture
well-being socio-emotionally, economically and environmentally.
This
initiative is drawing upon the constructive cultural diversity of the community
for expansion of productive economic opportunities afforded by Darwin’s
proximity to East Asia. Grassroots and long-grass family action is exploring
the resolution of socio-emotional issues like domestic violence, suicide,
substance abuse and keeping family members out of criminal justice and mental
institutions. As well, the aim is to skill families in well-being areas such as
relational mediating, intercultural healing action and developing grassroots
policy based on consensually evaluated and validated community action (refer
other file notes on these themes). Ideas are exploring Aboriginal and
multicultural healing cultural arts action and festivals. Action is weaving
together linked themes.
This
bottom-up project extends to involving the local community in taking care of
all aspects of the Rapid Creek catchment area. The Project is resonant with the
concept of Integrated Local Area Planning (refer Social Strategies for the
Northern Territory - A Strategic Workshop, April 1993: Office of Northern
Development, GPO Box 4075, Darwin 0801 NT.). Preliminary explorings are
beginning with long-grass aboriginal bodies and communities, local government,
Greening Australia, as well as religious, welfare, health, artistic,
multicultural and educational groups.
Rapid
Creek is one of the few (and perhaps the only) intact urban-based watershed
system left in Australia. It embraces semi arid dry lands, paperbark
communities, eucalyptus woodlands, pandanus and grasslands, monsoon rainforest,
as well as wetlands and mangroves.
Paperbark
and pandanus beside Rapid Creek
The
Rapid Creek catchment area provides extensive habitat for local flora and
fauna.
Rapid
Creek Mangroves – Fish spawning environment
The
local community also uses Rapid Creek as a beautiful leisure environment.
Rapid
Creek flood 2008
Many
parallel projects are coming together. They include practical rehabilitation of
flora and fauna by the Friends of Rapid Creek and active planning by the Darwin
City Council and Greening Australia. The more human nurturing family oriented
activities are focused around the Rapid Creek Water Gardens and nearby Village
shopping centre.
This
is where the oldest market in Darwin is held in the car park and walkways on
Sunday.
The
market has a strong intercultural tradition with colourful stalls being run by
people from many ethnic/cultural backgrounds including aboriginals and people
from Papua New Guinea and other Asian Pacific
and
European countries.
A
number of grassroots nurturing well-being groups are being attracted to operate
from this centre.
All
of the above action is developing a strong sense of community. It is villaging
within the city.
In
helping to remove impediments to social, environmental and economic wellbeing
in Darwin, the Rapid Creek Village Project is developing a micromodel perhaps with
global applicability and with specific relevance in developing Darwin as
Australia's northern link to East Asia.
Other Links:
Centennial Park Festival Events (1969)
Manifesto from First ConFest 1968