Company admits destroying Aboriginal rock shelter in NSW
Renewables company ACEREZ has apologised to Traditional Owners after workers destroyed an Aboriginal rock shelter in the Mudgee district of Central West New South Wales.
The company has paused work and an investigation is underway by both ACEREZ and the NSW government.
The company confirmed it knew about the site before the incident. It said the rock shelter had been identified during planning for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which spans 20,000 square kilometres within inland NSW. The damage occurred while an access track was being cut on private property to build power lines that connect the REZ to the grid.
Key Points
- ACEREZ admits damaging Aboriginal rock shelter in NSW beyond recovery
- Incident occurred cutting an access track on private property near Mudgee
- Site had been identified in project planning approval, CEO said
- Work paused as ACEREZ and NSW government conduct investigations
- EnergyCo says ACEREZ failed to follow agreed heritage protections
- NSW Environment Minister says incident is completely unacceptable
- Traditional owner lodges section 9 and section 10 heritage applications
ACEREZ said the shelter was damaged beyond repair. The episode follows earlier criticism of the project after about 60 native bird hatchlings were left homeless when “ancient” trees were felled. ACEREZ is clearing land in the Central West Renewable Energy Zone to build transmission infrastructure.
Company response
ACEREZ chief executive Steve Masters said required processes to protect the rock shelter were not followed. He said the company had contacted Traditional Owners and would work with them to decide how the site and its story can be acknowledged and honoured from here. ACEREZ stated it has “immediately paused” work on access tracks and launched an internal investigation into how the incident occurred.
Mr Masters said the agency apologised “without reservation” to the First Nations community. He added that ACEREZ is engaging directly with Traditional Owners following the incident.
Government action
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the State’s planning department would conduct an investigation into the site’s destruction. She said she had called in the ACEREZ chief executive to demand information about the heritage rock shelter and sought assurances about measures to assess and protect all Aboriginal sites.
“I am furious about this… It should never have happened and is completely unacceptable,” Ms Sharpe said.
