THE bush has been transformed into a workplace for a group of young indigenous men.
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They have spent the year so far getting their hands dirty, building a 300-metre boardwalk over the Kiewa River Floodplain on the High Country Rail Trail, just off Gullifer Lane at Bonegilla.
The Aboriginal men have welded the steel structure of the boardwalk, which is expected to be finished by October this year.
Now they have completed welding the first 300 metres of the track, they will focus on creating a second 300 metres further along the trail.
The project was made possible through a $405,000 grant from the Commonwealth government’s department of infrastructure and regional development.
It is being completed through a partnership between Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation, Wilson Transformer Company, Parklands Albury Wodonga and Bonegilla Rail Trail Advisory Group.
Parklands Albury Wodonga ranger Ant Packer said they could have hired a contractor, but wanted to use it as an opportunity to tackle social issues.
“It’s public land and it belongs to the community so everyone is pitching in to improve and maintain it,” she said.
“While improving the environment we are also giving the indigenous community employment opportunities.”
Ms Packer hoped once the boardwalk was complete, people would be able to have access to the High Country Rail Trail in the winter months.
“That will help tackle obesity because it encourages more people to walk,” she said.
The boardwalk also means the track won’t need constant maintenance after being damaged by floodwater.
Ms Packer said it wasn’t just about the physical work for those building the boardwalk and said people felt like they were part of something bigger.
Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation’s Trent Schultz said they were learning skills on the job.
“We are getting an idea of how to work together,” he said.
“I love the atmosphere out here and what comes with it.”