Noongar meeting place to be built in Katanning after State Government funding injection

A new meeting place for Katanning’s Noongar people is being promised by the State Government after a visit by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan. More than $90,000 is set to be spent on a Noongar meeting place as part of the Shire of Katanning’s Heritage Centre project. The centrepiece of the meeting place would be a firepit arrangement, which is planned to be covered by a shelter to allow for gatherings regardless of weather conditions. The Katanning Heritage Centre project started after the Barnett Government’s decision to award $15.72 million in funding in May 2016. Ms MacTiernan said the new meeting place would give Noongar people an opportunity to come together and share culture. “Yarning and storytelling is an important part of Noongar heritage and handing on culture to the next generation,” she said. “In time, the Noongar community may choose to use the new meeting place to share their culture with the wider community or as part of education or tourism opportunities.” Shire chief executive Julian Murphy said discussions were ongoing with community elders about the location of the meeting place. The site could be close to Katanning Creek. Several redevelopments have occurred under the Katanning Heritage Centre project in recent years, including the All Ages Playground and Piesse Lake.