Walker Corporation has been given the green light to continue development of the $3 billion Riverlea housing project

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs announced his decision on the controversial Walker Development on Friday.

Walker Corporation has been given the green light to continue development of the $3 billion Riverlea housing project after the discovery of Indigenous remains halted development.

In a statement on Friday, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher granted the developers authorisation to resume works in two areas where the remains of 29 Indigenous bodies had been found in July 2023.

A government spokeperson said the decision was made after a six-month consultation process engaging with “record numbers of Kaurna people” and the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee.

Walker Corporation has been given the green light to continue development of the $3 billion Riverlea housing project. Picture: Keryn Stevens

But South Australian Indigenous actor and activist Natasha Wanganeen said she and her supporters “were extremely disappointed in the outcome” and found it completely “disrespectful” to have their ancestors’ bones dug out of the ground.

“Why is it that our historical and cultural heritage is being dug up,” she said.

“Would Australia be willing to dig up their ANZAC memorials to build houses, carparks and shopping centres?

“Is this how we want to be remembered as a people who destroy the oldest living culture on the planet?

South Australian Indigenous actor and activist Natasha Wanganeen said they were extremely disappointed with the outcome. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

A Walker Corporation spokesman said they were happy to have engaged with the various Indigenous parties and come to an agreement.

“Walker is pleased to receive the authorisation from the Minister, which includes a range of

conditions to ensure Aboriginal heritage is appropriately managed throughout the project works,” they said.

“We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC) and the broader Kaurna community in the ongoing delivery of Riverlea.”

The government authorisation imposes 25 conditions on Walker Corporation,

including a requirement to establish a Kaurna Memorial Resting Place at the primary discovery location.

The remains of all Indigenous people that were removed from the Riverlea site during excavation works will be returned and reburied as close as possible.

The resting place will be designed in consultation with the Kaurna community.

Before any project works can begin, Walker Corporation will also undertake a satellite imagery analysis to identify any further potential burial sites.

They are also required to engage Aboriginal heritage monitors to observe all stripping of vegetation and topsoil as well as other works within high-risk areas.

Walker Corporation is unable to test any Aboriginal heritage, destructively or non-destructively, without the KYAC’s written permission.

The controversy began in July 2023 after human remains were found during bulk earthworks being undertaken at the Riverlea site in an area close to the Gawler River, previously used for intensive farming.

The discovery was reported to police, with the Walker Corporation halting works and creating an exclusion zone to allow for further investigations in the area.

Leadership of the area was handed to the KYAC and by September, the remains of at least 29 individuals had been uncovered in two areas – with one of the sites already being sold to homebuyers and the other set for future sale.

The human remains were stored on-site in a shipping container.

The $3bn project is the state’s biggest master planned community and aims to house more than 40,000 people with the construction of 12,000 homes in the next 20 years.

More than 1100 homes have been sold since construction started in February 2021, with 75 per cent of those finished or being built by about 1000 people now working on the site.

Originally published as Walker Corporation has been given the green light to continue development of the $3 billion Riverlea housing project