Parks Australia charged over alleged illegal Gunlom Falls works by Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
THE NT authority on Aboriginal sites protection has charged the government body that runs heritage icon Kakadu National Park for allegedly carrying out work at tourism hot spot Gunlom Falls without the proper clearance
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THE Northern Territory’s authority on Aboriginal sites protection has charged the government body that runs heritage icon Kakadu National Park for allegedly carrying out work at tourism hot spot Gunlom Falls without the proper clearance.
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA), which is responsible for overseeing the protection of Aboriginal sacred sites across the NT, confirmed it had filed a charge against Parks Australia for allegedly carrying out work at Gunlom Falls “without an authority certificate”.
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“The prosecution will allege that Parks Australia constructed a walking track on the sacred site located at Gunlom without an Authority Certificate and close to a ceremonial feature of the sacred site that is restricted according to Aboriginal tradition,” a spokeswoman said.
The move comes weeks after the embattled head of Parks Australia resigned amid an ongoing conflict between traditional owners and management at Kakadu National Park.
Dr James Findlay tendered his resignation shortly after Environment Minister Sussan Ley undertook a stealthy five day visit to the NT.
She was taken to Gunlom Falls clifftop pool, one of Kakadu’s most popular destinations and a flashpoint of the ongoing conflict, during the visit.
The crisis, borne out of numerous allegations against management, includes a history of poor communication with tourism operators, the handling of a 2019 helicopter crash in the park and uncontrolled burns and bushfires in the World Heritage site in the past year.
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If convicted of the charge, Parks Australia could be hit with a fine of up to $314,000
AAPA chairman Bobby Nunggumarjbarr said it was important for government bodies to “work together” to ensure things happen in the way traditional owners prefer.
“In the future in Kakadu I want to see the Park and traditional owners and AAPA working closer together so that this kind of thing can’t happen again,” he said.
“I want to make sure all the sacred sites are protected in the future for the benefits of the traditional owners and the custodians and all the visitors.”
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