Robinvale’s Proposed Dog Park Halted Over Tati Tati Massacre Site Concerns
ROBINVALE, VICTORIA — September 21, 2026

Construction of a proposed dog park in Robinvale has been paused after Tati Tati traditional owners raised concerns that the site holds significant cultural and historical importance, including as a ceremonial, massacre and repatriation area.

The proposed dog park is located at Centenary Park, an area traditionally known as Bumbang. Tati Tati traditional owners Uncle Brendan Kennedy and Uncle John Kennedy said the site contains Aboriginal ancestral remains and should be protected.

Traditional Owners Raise Heritage Concerns
The Kennedy brothers said the site’s cultural significance has long been known among the Tati Tati people.

They pointed to historical accounts of ceremonies held at Bumbang, including a record of a Tati Tati ceremony in 1892.

The brothers also said they previously provided Swan Hill Rural City Council with a historical letter documenting the site’s significance. They said the letter, submitted more than 15 years ago during an earlier planning dispute, can no longer be located by the council.

Council Says It Followed Required Process
Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Stuart King said the council was unaware of the site’s reported history before work began.

He said the council had followed the required planning process and had an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the proposed dog park.

King said the decision to halt the project came as a surprise because the council expected cultural heritage issues to have been identified during the assessment process.

The council’s own project information identifies cultural heritage management requirements as one of the considerations for potential dog park sites in Robinvale.

State Investigation Underway
Victoria’s First Peoples — State Relations has requested that work at the site stop while the concerns are investigated.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet said the Victorian Government was working with Swan Hill Rural City Council and Tati Tati traditional owners to examine the matter.

The Kennedy brothers have also requested a cultural heritage audit of the management plan used for the dog park project.

A decision on whether that audit will proceed is expected in the coming weeks.

Traditional Owners Call for Site to Be Preserved
The Tati Tati representatives have said they do not want further construction at the site.

Instead, they have proposed preserving and revegetating the area with native food and medicinal plants, while providing information about its cultural history.

The future of the proposed dog park will depend on the outcome of the ongoing cultural heritage investigation.

Sources: ABC News Australia; Swan Hill Rural City Council; Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.