‘ No road on burial sites’
Eaglehawk Neck work must stop
TASMANIA'S Aboriginal community will never consent to roadworks over ancient burial sites at Eaglehawk Neck, Aboriginal Land Council chairman Michael Mansell says.
The state government is planning works on a section of the Arthur Highway at Eaglehawk Neck.
The works include road widening and the construction of new turning lanes, bus stops and a shared path between Old Jetty Rd and Blowhole Rd.
Preliminary site investigations include digging 90 test pits down to bedrock on the site, in proximity to three Aboriginal burial sites up to 9000 years old.
Consultation by the Department of State Growth makes no mention of the impact on Aboriginal heritage.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Roger Jaensch had failed to consult with members of the Aboriginal community or respond to their concerns, Mr Mansell said.
“The minister’s office acknowledged a letter that was sent to the minister on Friday, asking him to withdraw the permit ( and) create a management plan based on the preservation of the burial grounds and the area,’ he said.
“We think that the minister will review this and we have made it plain that if the minister withdraws the decision to proceed on the 7th of December with roadworks then we’d sit down and help with the government, the Tasman Council and other people in the area and develop a management plan.
“It would be conditional that they abandon the roadworks because any infra
structure works would interfere with a burial site.”
Mr Mansell also flagged the possibility of seeking federal government assistance in protection for the site through interim orders.
A spokeswoman for the Department of State Growth said: “While the current design for the project does not affect any existing identified Aboriginal heritage area, the Department of State Growth became aware of areas of Potential Archaeological Sensitivity ( PAS) through the archaeological consultancy it commissioned. The department’s next step would be to undertake investigations as required by the regulator.
“The department will consult further with the Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and there will be no works undertaken at the site pending the outcome.”