Gumbaynggirr elders ‘unanimously agree’ to refuse welcome to country to Minns on Jetty land

As Coffs council prepares to be presented with its Jetty Foreshore poll results, Indigenous elders say they will refuse for the first time ever to provide a welcome to country if state plans go ahead.

The State Government has plans for the Jetty Foreshores redevelopment but community groups and Indigenous Elders are uniting to make their voices heard.

As the City of Coffs Harbour prepares to be presented with its Jetty Foreshore poll results, an Indigenous elders group say they will refuse for the first time ever to provide a welcome to country if state plans push ahead.

The Garlambirla Guuyu-girrwaa Aboriginal Elders hopes the Minns State Government will take notice of their significant stance.

In response, the state department handling the project said “extensive consultation” had already taken place, including engagement with local Indigneous groups and Aboriginal stakeholders.

“We have never before refused a welcome to Country, but on this important issue, we feel passionately that we need to make this strong statement,” Mr Reg Craig, who represents the Elders said.

“Elders have unanimously agreed not to provide any welcome to country on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr people for this development at the Jetty Foreshores.

“They are not listening to us, they are not listening to the significant majority of the Coffs Harbour community who voted no.”

Gumbaynggirr Elder Reg Craig said the Jetty area is special to the community and is a healing space with strong traditional values.

The declaration comes before council’s ordinary meeting on 24 October, where the results of the foreshores poll put to the community during the NSW Local Government elections will be presented.

The poll asked: Do you agree that some of the foreshore land should be used for multi-level private residential development?

Coffs Jetty Revitalization Refined Masterplan artist image of the view south to Corambirra Point.

Results were declared on October 1, showing 68.86 per cent of voters said no and 31.32 per cent of voters said yes.

“The Gumbaynggirr people stand united with the Foreshore For All community group and the 70% of Coffs Harbour voters that voted no to multistorey residential development at the Jetty Foreshores,’ Mr Craig said.

Foreshore For All members will rally outside Yarrila Place, Coffs Harbour prior to the council meeting to represent the ‘no’ voters.

Representative Gerry McGilvray said the group expects council to respect the results of the poll.

Foreshore For All representative Gerry McGilvray before council present the poll results at an ordinary meeting on 24 October.

“$70,000 was spent on developing the poll to guide the interests of the Coffs Harbour community,” Ms McGilvray said.

“We expect the councillors to act in accordance with their primary purpose — to respect the wishes of their community,” she said.

Property and Development NSW have said they will proceed with the controversial Jetty Foreshores precinct master plan despite the poll results.

A spokesperson from Property and Development NSW said they had conducted “extensive consultation” in relation to the project.

“Property and Development NSW has conducted extensive consultation alongside Indigenous consultancy Murawin to ensure engagement with Aboriginal stakeholders on the refined masterplan is best-practice, meaningful, inclusive and respectful,” the spokesperson said.

“All this work saw us gather ideas from a range of different voices and members of the Aboriginal community who we mightn’t otherwise have reached

“Throughout the development of the draft and refined masterplan, PDNSW engaged with the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council, who have also participated on the Project Steering Advisory Committee.

“Alongside Aboriginal engagement consultants Murawin, we also met with Traditional Custodians and Aboriginal community groups throughout the planning phases.

“Murawin prepared its Community Consultation and Outcomes Report in August 2022 that detailed the First Nations engagement that took place.”

The spokesperson said the department would continue to consult with the community as the project progresses.

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Originally published as Gumbaynggirr elders ‘unanimously agree’ to refuse welcome to country to Minns on Jetty land