The Butterfly Cave in West Wallsend is back in parliament after the NSW Opposition asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell what steps the Berejiklian Government is taking to protect the site, following allegations of spying and installation of CCTV cameras around the site.
The cave is currently in danger of collapse if construction of a residential housing estate planned to only allow a 20-metre buffer zone is allowed to go ahead.
The site - which was formally declared an Aboriginal Place in the same year approval was given to develop the housing estate - has also traditionally been used by Aboriginal women and girls, as a private meeting place for hundreds of years.
Approval for the development was given in 2013 to developer Roche Group, who are currently developing a Construction Management Plan which the Office of Environment and Heritage says is "to ensure all construction is properly facilitated, integrated and coordinated so as to deliver certainty to the objectives of the Project".
Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe said she was really disappointed when the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell refused to outline what the government was doing to protect the site and women who use it.
"Reports from local Awabakal women is that they are concerned that people are watching the ceremonies and the activities that they undertake at the cave.
"This is a very serious allegation which needs to be taken seriously," Ms Sharpe said.
When asked about the issue of CCTV installation and spying at the site, Ms Sharpe said the Minister "essentially washed her hands of the matter saying simply that people should go to the council or go to the developers and that is not good enough.
"The Butterfly Cave is a declared special place under Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation and it deserves far more protection than it is currently getting," Ms Sharpe said.
A petition to save the site from development has almost 65,000 signatures.
Petitioner Anne Andrews said "it is heartbreaking - the construction will damage our fragile cave. We’re desperate to save our sanctuary but the Roche Group Manager is threatening us with trespassing for continuing to go into the Butterfly Cave, a rare, private safe space for Aboriginal women. He’s installing CCTV, sends emails that show he’s spying on us and has even forced us to ask permission each time we want to enter. It's degrading and offensive.
"The Cave is incredibly special to Aboriginal women. Generations of women have treasured this spiritual place. Today I take my grand-daughters to the Cave to connect with our past. For many local families, the site has huge cultural significance," Ms Andrews said.
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| Left: Melinda Brown with granddaughter Yasmine at the Butterfly Cave. Picture: Peter Stoop. Right: Penny Sharpe. |
