Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics to face fresh charges over alleged Arlparra sacred tree destruction

The Territory government will face fresh charges over the alleged destruction of highly sacred trees during road widening works in a remote Central Australian community.

The AAPA has previously said the ghost gum trees were “highly sacred trees to the local custodians” who were “distressed” when it was discovered they were torn down and removed.

The Territory government will be hit with fresh charges over the alleged destruction of sacred trees in a remote Centralian community.

The Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics representatives faced Darwin Local Court on Monday, two years after the government contractors allegedly tore down sacred ghost gum trees at Arlparra, an Indigenous community 280km northeast of Alice Springs.

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority has alleged that during road widening civil works DIPL ignored sacred site boundaries, did not apply for an AAPA certificate and had torn down three protected trees in 2021.

They were charged with carrying out work on a sacred site.

The AAPA has previously said the ghost gum trees were “highly sacred trees to the local custodians” who were “distressed” when it was discovered they were torn down and removed.

It has been alleged that not only were DIPL specifically told not to damage the sacred ghost gums, but the department was provided with photographs of the hallowed trees for reference.

On Monday, AAPA lawyer Jon Bortoli told Judge Tanya Fong Lim that two charges of contravening an authority certificate would be added to the department’s existing charges.

Mr Bortoli said more evidence would be disclosed to the department following the fresh charges, including expert surveyors reports.

The matter was adjourned to May 2024 for a five day hearing in Alice Springs Local Court.