Media Release 17/2/05
2 pages including
this one
Wattle
Point; A New Zealand Government owned company's crime against
Aboriginal
culture.
Quenten Agius speaks out on behalf of the Narungga Heritage Committee and the true traditional owners of Adjahdura Land (Yorke Peninsula), South Australia.
SOUTHERN HYDRO REFUSES TO LET US FILM THE DESECRATED SITE
Now the Wattle Point wind farm developers, Southern Hydro and Meridian Energy, are saying we can only document the area at Wind Turbine 4 for our own use. They refuse to let us video and take photos of the area if we are going to show the media the desecration that has occurred there. If Southern Hydro and Meridian Energy have nothing to hide why won't they let us video the desecrated area?
COVER-UP; PROTECTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE DESECRATED
The Dept of Aboriginal Affairs (DARRE) and the Wattle Point Wind Farm developers Southern Hydro and Meridian Energy may have pushed aside the skeletal remains that were discovered at Wattle Point Wind Turbine 4, but little mention has been made of the hundreds of ancient artefacts and tools of our ancestors that were also found at the desecrated site of Wind Turbine 4. Even without the discovery of the skeletal remains, the site at Wind Turbine 4 is very significant. It's significant because Wind Turbine 4 was actually built over part of an ancient archaeological site, which was identified before the development started and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Terry Roberts, said was going to be protected.
Wind Turbine 4 was actually built on the ancient archaeological site because the boundary of the archaeological site was put in the wrong place. The boundary was compromised to suit the developers so they could get away with not moving Wind Turbines 2, 3, 4 & 5 out of the area. Even the report from the developer's archaeologist states, "The archaeological area extending from the registered site 6247/6657 has been exposed by construction works for hardstand WTG 04." Pg 10) 1.4 Recommendations.
Little has been said about the ancient artefacts that were discovered there because the department (DAARE) who didn't check the boundary of the archaeological site in the first place have stuffed up. And the developers Meridian Energy and Southern Hydro are trying to get away with this crime against Aboriginal culture.
I ASKED FOR THE TURBINES TO BE MOVED
Before the development started I asked the Minister Terry Roberts, DAARE, the site archaeologists and the developers, for Wind Turbines 2, 3, 4, & 5 to be moved across the road away from the ancient archaeological site but our wishes were ignored. No turbines were moved out of the area and development went ahead.
SOUTHERN HYDRO; NZ GOVERNMENT OWNED
Meridian Energy, which is wholly owned by the New Zealand Government, purchased Southern Hydro in 2003. The Wattle Point Wind Farm is the first wind farm Meridian Energy and Southern Hydro have ever built. Their lack of respect and knowledge of Aboriginal culture and beliefs was evident from the start and continued throughout the development. Meridian Energy and Southern Hydro knew nothing of our culture and weren't interested in listening to us.
The deceit and desecration of an ancient archaeological site that occurred at Wattle Point can be attributed to a New Zealand government owned company.
LEGAL ACTION
The developer continued to develop the site, even after the skeletal remains and artefacts were found there, breaching the Aboriginal Heritage Act. I call for legal action to be started against Southern Hydro, Meridian Energy and all the companies involved in this crime against Aboriginal heritage and culture.
Yours in unity
QUENTEN AGIUS
On behalf of The Narungga Heritage Committee (NHC)
Direct descendant of the true traditional owners of Adjahdura Land (Yorke Peninsula, SA).
Head Senior Monitor for the Narungga Heritage Committee (NHC).
Cultural and Heritage Officer for Goreta Aboriginal Corporation (GAC).
Narungga Culture and Heritage Consultant.
46 Maitland Rd, Point Pearce SA 5573
Mobile: 0429367121