The research attempts to return the water holdings in the north Murray-Darling Basin to First Nations with less impact on the local agriculture industry as possible. By introducing agroforestry and hedgerow, the design research illustrates a possible framework taking the ecosystem, agriculture, and the rejuvenation of Indigenous water culture into account.

ArcGIS has played the most crucial effect in this design research. Its powerful functions help unveil and combine the hidden facts which are hard to identify.

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After the initial research and filter, I set the following criterion to choose my test site:

1, the place must have existing floodplains/wetlands - for the development of Indigenous cultural flow and ecosystem rehabilitation;

2, this place has both endangered/of concern animals and vegetation distribution;

3, it is possible to connect the potential habitats/wetlands with

hedgerow/agroforestry/native vegetation buffer to create a framework;

4, this place is not far from the state’s transportation system to ensure accessibility.

Under these rules, Ballone Shire becomes the selection. It meets every criterion. In addition, it has a local Indigenous population in Saint George and Dirranbandi.

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Overlaying the proposed wildlife habitats (or agroforestry), wetland buffer zone (for indigenous cultural flow and ecosystem). The hedgerows are established to connect them along the hydrology streams. In addition, the hedgerows will  stick to the cadastral boundary, reducing the impact to the agriculture industry. This network maintains the local biodiversity, highlights the Indigenous watering place, and keeps the farming land use as many as possible.

To think further, if this proposal want to be more practical,  there are some issues need to be answered and investigated locally before the actual action. To name a few: Which species are endangered and vulnerable in this area? Which specific environment do they need? Is it affordable to convert the farming land to those species refuges? What is more, which language/social/nation groups are in this area? Are there any heritages left?

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