The Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council will investigate a Worimi elders concern, Newcastle City Council's relocation of 16 cabins from the Stockton Caravan Park has resulted in "cultural destruction" of the land.
The cabins were moved to an area near Stockton Pool, with reports a local resident is calling for an Interim Protection Order for the land, over concerns damage has been done to culturally significant sites without proper consultation.
The Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council says they will investigate the locals concerns, however their organisation did not raise the issue.
"I wasn't aware of the re-location of the cabin's to that area. The Worimi Local Aboriginal Land council did not lodge, initiate or instigate the complaint over the re-location," CEO of the Council, Andrew Smith said.
"Having said that, as an organisation we have a statutory responsibility to protect cultural heritage. Now that the complaint has been lodged, similar to Newcastle City Council and National Parks, we will have a look at what the concerns are, and what are the non compliance's in relation to the relocation of the cabins."
The Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council says despite possible issues with the re-location, they understand Newcastle City Council's decision to make the move.
"I understand why Council has done it, I get that the Stockton Community have a massive battle in front of them with the beach erosion. I think they are responding the best way they can," Mr Smith said.
"I guess I would have hoped the Council would have undertaken due diligence in relation to the re-location. What's done is done, we just need to make sure we can justify the outcomes and make sure we're not compromising or destroying Aboriginal Heritage."
The Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council says they will meet with Newcastle City Council, and The National Parks and Wildlife Service to discuss the elder's concerns.
"There'll be an onsite meeting to have a look at the location to see if there were spoils of any earth during the moving activity and to see if there's been any disturbance to Aboriginal sites," Mr Smith said.
"And as a result of that a discussion and negotiations will take place, but until we get that information there really isn't any clear position in relation to what the consequences will be."
Mr Smith says he is concerned the community may be under the impression the organisation as a whole made the complaint, rather then a single member.
"The local resident has Worimi Ancestry and as a result people then associate the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and then the Worimi Community as a whole, and then we all become targeted by social media trolling which is unfortunate."
"We are not the instigators of the complaint, but I fear the wave of repercussions has commenced and it's likely now we are going to start receiving abusive phone calls, and people will start smashing bottles in our drive ways and all sorts of ridiculous stuff."
