Waroona Shire infrastructure director Karen Oborn appointed to Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council

A senior officer at the Shire of Waroona will play a key role in protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage under a new appointment. Infrastructure and development services director Karen Oborn officially started her two year term on the State Government’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council on June 1 as one of four new members of the 11-person panel. Set up as part of the highly-debated Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act which came into effect earlier this month, the Council is described as the State’s “peak strategic body on Aboriginal cultural heritage matters”. Some of its tasks include providing advice to the government and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, setting management standards for Aboriginal cultural heritage and facilitating negotiations between Aboriginal parties and proponents where there is a disagreement. Alongside her position within the council, Ms Oborn is a member of the WA Local Government Association’s Reconciliation Network Group and is currently treasurer of the North Midlands Project. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti said congratulated the new members on their appointments. “I welcome their collective skills and experience to support the implementation of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act,” he said.