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26,000 signatures on rare Aboriginal site petition
by Annie Freer 31 October 2015
A
Change.org petition asking property developer Bill Roche to expand a protection zone around West Wallsend’s Butterfly Cave has attracted more than 26,000 signatures and continues to grow. The Butterfly Cave, west of Newcastle, was declared the first Aboriginal women’s Place by the NSW Government in 2013 in recognition of its significance to Awabakal women. Traditionally a place of safe haven where women could bathe, give birth and engage in ceremony, the site is still important to Aboriginal girls and women who visit it regularly to connect with
Image: Fairfax with permission Melinda Brown and grand-daughter Yasmine at the Butterfly Cave, West Wallsend
their cultural identity. Despite this, there are concerns the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (ACHMP) developed to safeguard the Cave from the Appletree Grove residential subdivision is inadequate. Petitioner Annie Freer notes that the Office of Environment and Heritage has no standard methodology to establish buffer zones to protect Aboriginal Places. “The 20 metre zone around the Butterfly Cave is the smallest zone in the state and places the site at immediate risk from earthworks and construction vibration.” She launched the petition to draw attention to the Cave’s plight and is
asking for Bill Roche to personally intervene. “If you have a registered Aboriginal Place on land owned by someone who has little interest in maintaining its integrity, it’s difficult to get planning decisions reviewed. Changes in consent conditions seem to flow one way – to the developer.” In 2012 registered Aboriginal stakeholders universally described the draft ACHMP as “fundamentally flawed” and noted the “high levels of distress and concern that the consultation process is causing us”. They wrote to the developer outlining specific concerns and suggesting solutions to protect
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the site, but Lake Macquarie City Council endorsed the ACHMP, as did OEH. Pete Townsend, Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council Culture and Heritage Officer, says he has been fighting for better protection around the Cave but has consistently been told “all requirements have been met”. He notes that while the physical presence of the Cave to Awabakal people is highly significant, its bushland setting is equally important. “Without the surrounding bushland, the Cave loses its context. It would be like the Opera House without the Harbour. It just wouldn’t be the same.” “We’re asking Mr Roche to acknowledge and respect the importance of the Butterfly Cave and the bushland surrounding it. We need to increase the size of the protection zone to keep it safe
and allow Aboriginal women the opportunity to visit the site with a degree of privacy.” Ms Freer reports Mr Roche has not responded to her directly. “I’ve received an unsigned email letter that reproduces information already available to us,” she said. “We are still hopeful Roche Group will step up and reduce the size of the development footprint. Pruning a few house blocks and protecting the Cave would be a terrific gesture of corporate philanthropy.” Additional Information * Documents available through Lake Macquarie City Council indicate the Cave may not survive the impact of earthworks with a geo-technical report prepared by Douglas Partners stating it “is not aware of any standard guideline which specifically applies to the effects of ground vibrations on natural rock structures”. * Changes to hydrology through
clearing and filling will also have a negative impact. * Aboriginal women must request permission to visit the Cave and Roche Group has signalled a willingness to charge anyone failing to do so with trespass. * If the subdivision proceeds as planned, women will have to look over a retaining wall to see the Cave. * Thousands of signatories have left messages which reveal nationwide concern and anger that the site – and others – are at risk. https://www.change.org/p/ mr-bill-roche-owner-of-huntervalley-gardens-please-savethe-butterfly-cave-aboriginalplace?recruiter=62125002&utm_ source=share_petition&utm_ medium=email&utm_ campaign=share_email_ responsive&rp_sharecordion_ checklist=control
NOTICE OF IMAN PEOPLE NATIVE TITLE AUTHORISATION MEETING The Applicants of the Iman #2 Native Title Claim have called an authorisation meeting for the following purposes: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Approve a draft S87 or a S87A order for a Determination of Native Title over the Iman #2 native title claim. Authorise the Wardingarri Aboriginal Corporation to hold Native Title in Trust for the Iman #2 and be the Registered Prescribed Body Corporate. Authorise an ILUA with Ergon Energy over the Iman #2 claim area. Authorise the following ILUA’s with pastoralists (maps of the ILUA area will be available at the meeting): Name of ILUA Iman People/Comely and Mapala ILUA
5. 6.
Pastoralist Party Consolidated Pastoral Company Pty Limited ACN 010 080 654 Iman People/Coorada ILUA Brian John Atkins Eion Evan Atkins Iman People/Glenhaughton ILUA Avon Ross Hamilton Carol Hamilton Nathan Jay Hamilton Iman People/Glenleigh ILUA Patrick Robert Scott Joan Marjorie Cogill William Robert Cogill Kathleen Ann Harrison Iman People/Korcha ILUA Owen Arthur William Price Brigid Ann Price Arthur William Price Gail Lorraine Price Iman People/Woodine ILUA Andrew Douglas Simmons Tracey Robin Simmons Narelle Effie Simmons Authorise a further Native Title Claim over the shaded area of the Map contained in this notice and authorise Applicants to prosecute the new claim. Authorise compensation claims for native title that has been extinguished over the Iman #2 claim area and the area of the new claim.
The arrangements for the meeting are as follows: Date
31 October 2015
Time
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Conference Centre, cnr Yeppoon Road & Bruce Highway North Rockhampton Only the descendants of the following Iman ancestors will be entitled to participate in the meeting: Mary Arwa, Jim Waterton, Ada Robinson, Maggie Palmtree, Lizzie Palmtree, Eliza Shields, Mary Ann (mother of Maggie Dunn), Fanny Waddy/Sandy, Dick Bundi/Bundai and Alice Dutton and the mother of John Serico (known as Aggie). Travel Assistance Assistance with travel will be provided only to those who register by 4.00pm on Monday 19 October 2015. Persons who registered but did not attend the previous authorization meeting of 14 September 2013 will not be eligible for assistance on this occasion. Please Contact Kylie on 0458 781 504 or 0481 151 750 to register for the meeting. Registration is from 8:00 am.
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