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The Kulyakartu Infrastructure Project was shaped by long-held community aspirations to establish a reliable water point on one of the most remote stretches of the Great Sandy Desert. Elders, Rangers and cultural advisors travelled back to Kulyakartu to set up a hand pump, a shelter and a rainwater tank, ensuring water security for a future ranger team and improving safety for travellers moving through their Country.
August 2025
Kulyakartu Native Title Area
Great Sandy Desert
Western Australia
Kulyakartu Aboriginal Corporation
Desert Support Services
“The main thing we want is a pump for water—also for tourists—and shelter, because we go out on country for ranger work” – Simon Frank, Chairperson Kulyakartu Aboriginal Corporation
“Merridoo, your dream has come true, you have a hand pump!” – Thunder Billycan, Kulyakartu Ranger
Kulyakartu is a small pocket of Country set deep in the northern Great Sandy Desert. It has never experienced permanent settlement, mining access or major non-Aboriginal disturbance. This is Country cared for by Martu families across generations. For decades, Traditional Owners have spoken about the need for reliable water points along the Nyangumarta Highway, which is a 400-kilometre stretch with no safe drinking water for travellers, Elders or Ranger teams. Through community planning, it became clear that establishing water access was essential for enabling people to return to Country more frequently, safely and for longer.
In mid-August 2025, a team of eight Elders, Rangers and cultural advisors, returned to Kulyakartu to turn long-held aspirations into practical action. Working with a building contractor and a ranger coordinator from Desert Support Services, the group installed a hand pump at one site accessible to travellers, and a shelter and rainwater tank at another for future ranger use. As Merridoo put it while tasting the water fresh from the pump, ‘Pure water… pure water from the underground. We live by our water.’
Rangers spoke about how good it felt to work hard together, get their hands dirty, and learn practical skills anchored in culture. Construction-focused work proved especially motivating for the younger and middle-aged men, helping form a strong, cohesive team. Merridoo emphasised that the work was aimed at bringing younger people onto Country to learn skills and build confidence. ‘I want all my young fellas to come—this is for you. Be proud of what you’ve got from your parents.’
people on the trip
hand pump installed
water tank installed
Beyond the physical work completed on Country, the project strengthened Kulyakartu’s capacity to tell its own story and advocate for its future. The presence of a filmmaker from IDA allowed Elders and Rangers to speak directly and on their own terms about this project. This documentation will support future funding and IPA applications, helping to present Kulyakartu in the right light and build momentum toward a permanent ranger program. As Elders reminded the younger men throughout the trip, this work is about carrying forward what has been passed down and holding knowledge so it continues long after they are gone.
Eager to make a lasting impact alongside desert Rangers and Traditional Owners?
Donate today or contact foundation@indigenousdesertalliance.com to learn more.
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