A parliamentary question addresses the registration of culturally significant Aboriginal sites (Bungalbin, Windarling, Boondine Hill, Mt Jackson) and the communication of this information to the EPA regarding Portman Ltd's mining proposal. The response indicates awareness but insufficient information for registration.

AnsweredQoN 705Legislative Council
Asked
13 March 2003
Portfolio
Indigenous Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Has the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites been informed that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Windarling, Boondine Hill and the Mt Jackson range are sites of cultural significance to Aboriginal people? (2) If yes to (1), what action has been taken on that information? (3) Was that information given to the Environmental Protection Authority in advice from the Department of Indigenous Affairs on Aboriginal and cultural heritage in the Koolyanobbing-Windarling areas of the Yilgarn region for the EPA’s assessment of Portman Ltd’s proposal to commence new mining at Windarling Range and Mt Jackson? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following response - (1) The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites is aware that some Aboriginal people are of the view that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Boondine Hill, Windarling and Mt Jackson are culturally significant. He is also aware that other Aboriginal people disagree with that perspective. (2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
(2) If yes to (1), what action has been taken on that information? (3) Was that information given to the Environmental Protection Authority in advice from the Department of Indigenous Affairs on Aboriginal and cultural heritage in the Koolyanobbing-Windarling areas of the Yilgarn region for the EPA’s assessment of Portman Ltd’s proposal to commence new mining at Windarling Range and Mt Jackson? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following response - (1) The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites is aware that some Aboriginal people are of the view that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Boondine Hill, Windarling and Mt Jackson are culturally significant. He is also aware that other Aboriginal people disagree with that perspective. (2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
(3) Was that information given to the Environmental Protection Authority in advice from the Department of Indigenous Affairs on Aboriginal and cultural heritage in the Koolyanobbing-Windarling areas of the Yilgarn region for the EPA’s assessment of Portman Ltd’s proposal to commence new mining at Windarling Range and Mt Jackson? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following response - (1) The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites is aware that some Aboriginal people are of the view that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Boondine Hill, Windarling and Mt Jackson are culturally significant. He is also aware that other Aboriginal people disagree with that perspective. (2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following response - (1) The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites is aware that some Aboriginal people are of the view that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Boondine Hill, Windarling and Mt Jackson are culturally significant. He is also aware that other Aboriginal people disagree with that perspective. (2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following response - (1) The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites is aware that some Aboriginal people are of the view that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Boondine Hill, Windarling and Mt Jackson are culturally significant. He is also aware that other Aboriginal people disagree with that perspective. (2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
(1) The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites is aware that some Aboriginal people are of the view that the topographical features known as Bungalbin, Boondine Hill, Windarling and Mt Jackson are culturally significant. He is also aware that other Aboriginal people disagree with that perspective. (2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
(2) In mid-2001 a heritage survey report was received by the Department of Indigenous Affairs covering an area that included the above topographical features. The report contained insufficient information for relevant departmental staff to register any or all of those features on the interim Aboriginal heritage sites register in accordance with routine departmental practice. On numerous occasions since that time the author of the report has been requested to provide additional information that would be sufficient to enable the registration of the features and for this matter to be considered by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee. That information has not yet been forthcoming. (3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.
(3) The EPA has been comprehensively informed of the situation as outlined in the answer to (2) above.

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