Bajirru! there you all are, hello! From the Yanyuwa language of Balarinji’s origin community Borroloola NT
Jinangu awara wabarrangu barra kalu-wingka marnijinju wabudala kari-nguthundawabarrangu jinangu Australia li-wulu marnaji barra liyi-Yanyuwawu awara li-Marranbala li-Arrwangala li-Gudanji jinangu awara Burrulula marnaji yamulhu
Our Country we belong to is Borroloola. Yanyuwa, Marra, Gudanji and Garrawa people.We welcome everyone to this land Australia.
Yanyuwa elder Samuel Evans Jamika
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AECOM

Canberra Light Rail Designing with Country Framework

#Community engagement
Year
2024
Location
Canberra

Balarinji was engaged by AECOM to provide a Designing with Country Framework for the Light Rail Stage 2B for ACT Government’s Infrastructure Canberra (iCBR).

Stage 2B will extend Canberra’s light rail network to include nine new stops between Commonwealth Park to Woden. This extension will create more transport options, help reduce traffic congestion and support Canberra’s transition to a zero emissions future.

Balarinji’s Designing with Country Framework for Stage 2B outlined how local Indigenous narratives could be authentically embedded within the design elements of the light rail network and create a sense of belonging and a shared cultural identity. 

Developed using Balarinji’s best-practice co-design and community collaboration methodology that involved local elders and traditional custodians with cultural ties to the Canberra region, the Designing with Country Framework will be used to:
  • Inspire design teams to connect with Country through culturally informed design methodologies and use this connection to prioritise Country in design outcomes.
  • Support project design teams and guiding documents on how Country can influence the design of the Stage 2B project.
  • Ensure the project supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to gain tangible and intangible intergenerational benefits.
  • Support mutually beneficial capacity building across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous communities.
“Collaborating with Balarinji on the Designing with Country Framework for Canberra Light Rail Stage 2B has been a transformative experience. Over the past six months, engaging with locally connected elders and community leaders has provided profound insights into the cultural landscape. This partnership has enriched our approach by embedding cultural heritage and community perspectives into our design principles."

Kieran Minto, AECOM Designing with Country Coordinator

The Designing with Country Framework put forward four key design themes for the project and recommendations for how these could be integrated throughout the light rail network.

Reflect Country through landscaping – designing landscaping with deep respect for, and understanding of, the natural, cultural and spiritual dimensions of Country. This design philosophy acknowledges the interconnectedness of nature, people, landscape, sky and water, and their collective impact on Aboriginal wellbeing and belonging.

Journeys through storytelling – aims to preserve, translate and celebrate cultural narratives and perspectives of the Canberra region into design.

Evoking the senses – creating a deep connection to Country through sight, sound, touch, smell and taste to foster a sense of belonging, identity and cultural heritage. Evoking the senses also promotes mental, emotional and spiritual health, contributing to overall wellness and resilience.

Incorporating language – Aboriginal language is central to Aboriginal identity. Speaking and hearing language reawakens Country and culture.

“The modern landscape we live in is but a momentary point in time, populated through recent rapid expansion. What came before that is a deep connection with the land, something beyond my naïve understanding. Every project is an opportunity for continuous enrichment of understanding of the deep culture of the land for which we now curate. Those opportunities for enrichment come from hearing the stories of the local Aboriginal elders and leaders, the people that can better connect our understanding with the land. I am immensely privileged to have heard first hand the stories of Country, from the people who, for thousands of years, have cared for it and been part of it.  The Designing with Country framework for the project, educates us and seeks to integrate Community-driven design principles rooted in the knowledge of the land into the project, helping us create infrastructure that truly respects and connects with the local environment and community.”

Hayden Rosser – Urban Integration Lead