The Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Bulli. Photo: Green Left.
NEWLY built structures at the Sandon Point Tent Embassy will be removed by Wollongong City Council after complaints from residents of a nearby housing estate.
Structures built on the site after December 31 2016 will be removed in consultation with the Sandon Point Joint Management Partner organisations.
At its meeting on Monday, Council resolved to provide assistance to local Aboriginal leaders to have the structures removed after concern was raised from nearby residents.
Council was made aware that work had started on a new structure at the site on January 12.
A statement from Council said no development consent or Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) to undertake any works has been obtained.
On January 17, Council officers and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage staff inspected the Sandon Point Tent Embassy and issued a stop work order after a number of complains that additional structures were being erected at the site.
Council said that at a meeting with the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place Joint Management Agreement Partner organisations on February 6, a request to remove all structures at the Sandon Point Tent Embassy site was considered and supported by the majority of Partner organisations.
Council also reaffirmed its acknowledgement of the cultural significance of the Sandon Point – McCauley’s Beach Aboriginal Place and the important role of the Sandon Point Joint Management Agreement Partner organisations.
The Sandon Point Joint Management Agreement Partner organisations make decisions on the use of Sandon Point Aboriginal Place and Plan of Management Area. Any proposed uses or developments require the support of the majority of the Agreement Partners.
The Agreement Partners include the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council and four local Aboriginal community organisations.
Council staff will follow NSW Office of Environment and Heritage advice to ensure the values of Sandon Point Aboriginal Place are preserved during any works undertaken at the site.
I hope any work is to be done at no cost to WCC ratepayers. If I had erected such structures in my own yard I would rightly have to foot the bill, so surely it would be entirely reasonable to expect that the applicable Aboriginal representative / management groups should wear all costs involved in removing any unwanted structures from their property.
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Posted by Bluey | February 23, 2018, 10:24 pm