Sacred Kaurna trees to stay at Port Noarlunga
Onkaparinga Council no longer wants to remove a grove of sacred swamp oak trees at Port Noarlunga as part of a $4.7 million upgrade of the riverbank.
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Onkaparinga Council has backflipped on a proposal to remove sacred Kaurna trees from the riverbank in Port Noarlunga.
The council has said that the land, which contains a grove of sacred swamp oak trees, is owned by the State Government and will no longer be included in its $4.7 million plans to develop the area.
The riverbank is known to be significant in Kaurna culture due to its proximity to the Onkaparinga River and Tjilbruke Dreaming tracks, which extend from Kingston Park to Rapid Bay.
Earlier this month, the council agreed to seek permission from Premier Steven Marshall (as Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation minister) to “potentially disturb” Aboriginal sites on Wearing St – including the trees – to develop land facing onto the river.
However, the council is no longer seeking permission to remove the trees and has decided that the area will be excluded from its future plans for the site.
At a meeting on Tuesday night, councillors voted to “advocate” on behalf of the Aboriginal community should the State Government ever seek to chop down the trees.
“In detailed consultation with the State Government and community, we have considered and explored issues and opportunities for all government land (council and state government) within this precinct in an effort to deliver the best possible community outcome,” Mayor Erin Thompson said after the meeting.
“(Tuesday night’s) council direction will now see the Casuarina grove area excluded from further planning for this project (and the) council will now take on an advocacy role in relation to the casuarina grove site.”
Kaurna senior woman Georgina Williams addressed the meeting and said there should be “no land transfers, subdivision, commercial enterprise, or development impacting on our Aboriginal natural and cultural heritage” until a recognised Aboriginal representative body was appointed for consultation.
“That place is one of the last where people can learn about the natural earth’s people,” she said.
Kaurna elder Buster Turner said there were three Aboriginal bodies buried at the site.
“I’m tired of losing my culture, having bodies dug up and having no where (culturally significant) to take my grandchildren,” she said.
The council will continue to consult with the Kaurna people on the project.
According to the concept plan, the site – which is home to the Onkaparinga Canoe Club, the Port Noarlunga Aquatic Centre and the South Port Surf Life Saving Club – will feature new storage and training areas for the clubs, upgraded shelters and toilets on the riverbank and a large lawn area for community events.