What happened at the $180 million Wattle Point Wind Farm development, Australia's largest wind farm, is a crime against Aboriginal culture and beliefs - A breach of the Aboriginal Heritage Act and a breach of the Minister's (Terry Roberts) "Strict Conditions of Authorisation". Developers, Meridian Energy and Southern Hydro (New Zealand government owned), desecrated an ancient Aboriginal burial ground and archaeological site of our ancestors.
A small group, representing the direct descendants of the traditional owners of Adjahdura Land (Yorke Peninsula, SA), will hold a protest at the official opening on Thursday 16/6, which will be attended by the Premier of SA, Mike Rann and Meridian Energy executives.
Wind Turbine 4 was built on part of a registered archaeological site that the Minister said was going to be protected. The boundary of the archaeological site, which is next to Wind Turbine 4, was compromised and put in the wrong place to suit the developers. We wanted wind turbines 2, 3, 4 & 5 moved out of the area but no one took any notice of us, and the developers, Meridian Energy and Southern Hydro, did what they wanted.
After the developer's grader desecrated the site at Wind Turbine 4, hundreds of ancient artefacts, tools and smashed skeletal remains were discovered there. After discovering the artefacts and skeletal remains at Wind Turbine 4, the developers just continued desecrating the site, breaching the Minister's "Strict Conditions of the Section 23 Authorisation". What happened at Wattle Point is a disgraceful, money hungry act and the government are trying to cover it up.
Our heritage continues to be decimated on the Yorke Peninsula and it's obvious that this state government isn't serious about the preservation of Aboriginal heritage and culture or they would be listening.
QUENTEN AGIUS Mobile: 0429367121
Direct
descendant of the traditional owners of Adjahdura Land (Yorke
Peninsula, SA).
Interim
Chairperson of the Narungga Heritage Committee.
Head
Senior Monitor for the Narungga Heritage Committee.
46 Maitland Rd, Point Pearce SA 5573