Council votes to keep support for Butterfly Cave

BY JARROD MELMETH

Lake Macquarie Councillors have voted against a recission motion put forward by Councillor Kevin Baker demanding that Council withdraws its support for an application lodged by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council seeking further protection for the Butterfly Cave at West Wallsend.

Acting Mayor Wendy Harrison and Councillors Barney Langford and Brian Adamthwaite spoke out against the motion which was supported by only three Councillors.

The cave is believed to be 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.

NSWALC lodged the application on behalf of the Awabakal Local Land Council asking the Minister for Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, to extend the 20-metre buffer zone to 100 metres claiming "the use of heavy machinery and construction tools is a source of vibration that may cause irreversible physical damage to Butterfly Cave" and "the removal of native vegetation and diversion of watercourses irrevocably affects the traditional use of the area."

In June Mayor Kay Fraser wrote to the Department of Environment and Energy extending her support for the application by the NSWALC, which Councillor Kevin Baker said is inappropriate.

"Council should not be lobbying for one side or the other on any position when we are actually a consent authority.

"What my recission motion sought to do was to still put a submission into the federal government authority that is running this investigation but, have that submission detail the process that has been taken in relation to the consent, how everything has progressed and also detail the steps that are being put in place to ensure that the Butterfly Cave is not going to be damaged through the construction process.

"Put through a factual response rather than lobbying for one side or the other," Cr Baker said. 

Cr Baker said all politics aside he does support protecting the cave.

"My wife and children are Aboriginal and I am a strong believer in Aboriginal culture and heritage.

"I have long felt the Butterfly Cave needs to be protected and I think the council is doing a fantastic job through the construction management plan and the construction certificate process, in putting in some really detailed measures to make sure the Butterfly Cave is protected throughout the construction process.

"But, the council have guidelines under the law to follow and we feel it is important that those laws are upheld and that the correct process is followed," Cr Baker said.

 The specified area known as Butterfly Cave in West Wallsend.

Butterfly Cave under further threat as CCTV cameras are installed

BY JARROD MELMETH

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.

Left: Melinda Brown with granddaughter Yasmine at the Butterfly Cave.
 Picture: Peter Stoop. Right: Penny Sharpe.

Sacred Butterfly Caves in jeopardy

BY JESSICA ROUSE

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

"We really are imploring her [Gabrielle Upton] to get involved and make a stand in a fight that's so far been completely one sided in favor of the developers who have influence and they know how to manipulate situations to their benefit and these women are just average everyday women trying to fight save an aboriginal site," said Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Rob Russell.

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.