State government defends Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore process despite Elders’ concerns

Aboriginal Elders are demanding to be heard on the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore redevelopment plans as they clash once again with the state government on its consultation process.

Aboriginal Elders are demanding to be heard on the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore redevelopment plans as they clash once again with the state government on its consultation process.

The Garlambirla Guuyu-Girrwaa (GGG) Aboriginal Elders group have again expressed their concerns over the consultation process and criticised the approach to preserving the culturally significant site by Property and Development NSW (PDNSW).

While the Elders have expressed frustration, the state government maintains consultations with community members have been facilitated by consultants Murawin.

Garlambirla Guuyu-Girrwaa (GGG) Aboriginal Elders Ken Craig and Reg Craig in Coffs Harbour.

“Property and Development NSW has consulted with the local First Nations / Aboriginal community every step of the way” a department spokesman said.

Elder Reg Craig, on behalf of GGG, contended that the consultations for the Coffs Jetty Revitalisation Refined Masterplan were inadequate and not in line with expectations.

Local Indigenous Elders dispute the adequacy of state government consultation over land earmarked for development at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore.

“There has been very little consultation especially with the local Aboriginal Elders and the majority of the community”.

“They’re not listening,” Mr Craig said.

“We want anything other than private residential development, it’s as simple as that.”

Mr Craig also claims the project’s failings include a lack of an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA) of the area proposed for rezoning and no consultation with the elders on one.

Foreshore4All group supported Garlambirla Guuyu-Girrwaa (GGG) Aboriginal Elders Ken Craig and Reg Craig in Coffs Harbour on 20 March.

But PDNSW argues the ACHA is underway by Artefact Heritage which have “invited registrations of interest from Aboriginal parties, groups or individuals who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the significance of Aboriginal objects and/or places in Coffs Harbour area”.

The Elders have previously stated they will offer no Welcome to Country if the state government ignore poll results that showed 68.8 per cent of voters were against private residential multistorey apartments.

As the redevelopment pushes forward, with both sides at odds, the question of whether cultural heritage will be adequately protected – in line with what the Indigenous groups expect – remains uncertain.

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Originally published as State government defends Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore process despite Elders’ concerns