Boral has stopped work on its preparations for the new sand mine at Dunmore, after a request for urgent Federal intervention was lodged recently by the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The Land Council submitted the request for work to be stopped on the area in consideration of cultural objects and potential remains.

“We were getting stories that the workers [experienced First Nations’ archaeological teams, known as Registered Aboriginal Stakeholders] were pulling a whole lot of artifacts out of the site,” says Mr Knight, Chief Executive of Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council.

“They were concerned at the quantity and, in conjunction with the significance of the site, they felt like the project should stop.

“The Land Council didn’t believe the project should proceed in the first place because it is such a significant cultural area, not only for the massacre site.

“The stories elevated our concerns and we couldn’t allow it to continue. We took the next opportunity for opposing it which was going under the Federal legislation.

“It’s a very important area that needs to be recognised culturally as well as environmentally.”

Apart from being a significant site for local indigenous communities, the site where Boral’s approved sand mining expansion is going ahead is also in the vicinity of a massacre of at least six Aboriginal people by white people in October 1818.

“We were quite confident that there were going to be a lot of objects or examples of occupation being found in that area,” says Mr Knight.

“We were fully aware of how well that area was used in the past so tried to not allow the mining to proceed in the first place, but unfortunately it was given the green light.

“We’ve protested that decision by deciding to ban any activity of the Land Council on that site, or in relation to that project, and haven’t participated in it from that point on.”

The Land Council’s action is supported by Friends of the Minnamurra River, who oppose the sandmining on a number of fronts.

Boral says they are working with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, registered Aboriginal parties and the Land Council while the Department and Minister consider the application.

They also stated that there has been no evidence connecting the Dunmore Stage 5 Project with the massacre site located on the Minnamurra River after test excavations, salvage works and ground penetrating radar were used.

“Boral places great importance and value on Aboriginal heritage,” said a Boral spokesperson.

"The cultural heritage assessment process for the Dunmore Stage 5 project took over 3 years, including substantial consultation with Aboriginal stakeholders in accordance with NSW Government Aboriginal consultation guidelines.  

"The current salvage activities being undertaken at Dunmore are ​in accordance with the planning consent issued by the NSW Department of Planning in November 2020, as well as a methodology that was agreed with all registered Aboriginal parties (RAPs). This has resulted in an Aboriginal cultural heritage process that has gone beyond the basic Government mandated requirements.

"Boral is committed to ensuring all sites are fully compliant with local, state and commonwealth government requirements. Boral undertook all consultation with Aboriginal stakeholders and Heritage NSW in a consistent and transparent manner and in accordance with Aboriginal cultural heritage consultation requirements.

"Boral has stopped work on site and we are working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, registered Aboriginal parties and the Illawarra LALC while the Department and Minister consider the application."