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Subscriber only The campaign to save the Gympie Pyramid from the $1 billion bypass has been dealt a blow with Federal Environment Minister Sussan ley rejecting an application for emergency protection of the site. A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment said Ms Ley decided against making the declaration as she was not satisfied the area was a significant Aboriginal area for the purposes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. Campaigners for the preservation of the site, also called Djaki Kundu, applied to Ms Ley s office for the declaration in January after failing to secure an injunction to halt the work last November in Brisbane s Supreme Court.
The Federal Environment Minister was asked to issue emergency protection for the site from the Gympie Bypass amid claims it had Aboriginal significance.
A clash between protesters and the Queensland State Government over the future of the s0-called Gympie Pyramid site has been avoided today, with work at the section of the $1 billion Section D of the Cooroy to Curra Bypass on pause until a ruling is handed down on an Indigenous claim for cultural protection under Federal law. Protesters fighting to stop the destruction of the site, also called Djaki Kundu, issued a call-out for support on social media on Sunday night saying they had not yet been given word the site would remain untouched on Monday, May 10. We hope that DTMR are leaving their decision until the last minute just to annoy us, however we can t be sure they are not intending to move in with their bulldozers, a post on the Kabi Dreaming Facebook page said.
Work on a controversial Go Kart Track in the New South Wales Central West region will be stopped for at least 30 days after a section 9 declaration was made by the Federal Environment Minister.
An identified women s site on Wahluu was marked for the new track, which was supposed to commence construction on Monday - International Women s Day.
Wiradyuri Traditional Owners have been opposed to the $4.2 million dollar development for years and have been fearful that works will go ahead regardless of the site s cultural significance.
But on Friday, Minister Sussan Ley made the emergency declaration to prevent the Bathurst Regional Council from going ahead with the project, making an emergency declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
Kempsey Shire Council has suspended work to seal Point Plomer Road until the end of the week. Council says it's stopped in 'good faith' after it was made aware of applications under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. The federal law can protect area . by Britt Ramsey | NBN News-News, Sport & Weather