The sacred Aboriginal site, the Awabakal women's Butterfly Cave, is in jeopardy at West Wallsend.
Butterfly Cave is at risk from a housing development which will impact the sacred site through earthworks and construction vibration.
The Aboriginal women have lodged an application to have the zone extended to 100 metres between the Cave and the housing estate, after the developer only put a 20 metre buffer zone in place - the smallest zone in the state.
The application was lodged in December 2016 and the Awabakal women say they've requested meeting with Minister Upton on numerous occasions but have not received a reply.
The Awabakal Aboriginal Land Council is calling on Minister for Environment and Heritage Gabrielle Upton to intervene at what is the eleventh hour for the site, and save the Butterfly Cave.
 |
| Melinda Brown with granddaughter Yasmine in the Butterfly Caves. Image Change.org |
The Butterfly Cave was declared the first Aboriginal women's Place by the NSW Government in 2013 in recognition of its huge significance to Awabakal women.
It's not just the development itself causing concern for the scared site, it's what happens after the housing estate is built as well.
"We're worried the development itself is going to damage it, but its going to be so close to houses that we're worried people are going to use it as a play site, somewhere to go exploring when it is a far more important site than just a playground," said Rob Russell.
An online Change.org petition to 'Save the Cave' has been created and already has 59,000 signatures.
