The fate of Banyam Baigham-the Sleeping Lizard (North Lismore Plateau) remains unresolved

 

An artist's impression of the 'Sleeping Lizard' goanna that forms the hills of North Lismore Plateau site.(Facebook: North Lismore Plateau Protection Group) - ABC News, 10 February 2022

ABC Premium News, 16 December 2022:

....Panel chair Paul Mitchell told a determination meeting that virtually every aspect of the $39 million housing proposal needed further work but he had not ruled out future development on the site.....

The development of the site has been discussed for many years, with Aboriginal heritage & biodiversity listed as the greatest concerns.

Developers urged to submit again

Lismore City Council general manager John Walker said there was support for flood-free housing on the plateau.

"It's disappointing because we do need land, but any approval for DA (development application) must be fully compliant," Mr Walker said.

"You can't expect councils & planning authorities to approve matters without the necessary studies & reviews."

A report from the independent flood inquiry recommended urgently moving people out of high-risk areas on flood plains.

Mr Walker has urged the developers to submit a new application.

"We would certainly encourage them to do so, the plateau was a really important part of the future of Lismore. We'd encourage them to work with us to get that development happening," he said.

Consultants speaking on behalf of the developer told the panel they will now consider starting proceedings in the Land & Environment Court.

ABC News-ABC North Coast, 16 December 2022:

Panel chair Paul Mitchell told a determination meeting that virtually every aspect of the $39 million housing proposal needed further work but he had not ruled out future development on the site.

"I'm sure we'll see some residential development on the plateau," he said.

"The issues are not insurmountable, but this development application wasn't complete in the sense that it didn't answer key questions, such as whether landslip issues could be managed."

Lismore City Council had previously supported development on the plateau but in a submission to the panel recommended the project be refused.

Northern Star, 16 December 2022:

Finding significant and unresolved issues with the development application, the planning panel unanimously voted down the $39 million housing development on Dunoon Rd in North Lismore on Thursday…..

Lismore ratepayer Dot Moller said a new nuanced plan for the development of the North Lismore plateau may be required.

“There is a potential injustice to the population of North Lismore, our community badly affected by the devastating floods this year.

“Many families are still homeless and living in substandard conditions right at the foot of our green plateau.

“Folks have left as they‘ve been unable to find work or repair their homes. Social and affordable housing is desperately needed.

“It is time to think about what we really need – not what a big Sydney development company thinks will work for them.”

Lismore resident Helen Robinson pointed out to the panel some of the land on the proposed estate had been identified as suitable to relocate up to 500 homes off the flood plain in North Lismore by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation.

“Those homes are suitable to move to the foothills of this estate where the people can maintain their communities,” she said.

“(But) council maintains that it's not in the community’s interest. I wonder which part of the community they’re considering.

“I don’t think they’re considering the people of the flood plain.”

Major concerns that sank the development included, environmental and wildlife impacts from land clearing, bushfire hazards, pollution of drinking water, increased stormwater run-off, noise from traffic and undue pressure on infrastructure.

But the elephant in the room – and the biggest obstacle facing the developers – is the outstanding Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment.

“A significant shortfall with the application is a lack of consolation and documentation in regards to Aboriginal cultural heritage,” the council’s assessment reads.

The plan to build on the Northern Plateau has been banging around for over a decade, with the development hotly debated.

The council’s assessment found the DA as presented was in contravention of Aboriginal heritage conservation.

Known culturally as the ‘Sleeping Lizard’ because of the shape of the land, the site is said to hold significant cultural value to Widjabul Wia-bal traditional owners of the Bundjalung Nation.

Back in 2011, members of the Widjabul Wia-bal community protested after the council voted to allow the development because of the cultural significance of the site.

More than 10 years later, the issue of heritage conservation on the site is yet to be addressed by the prospective developers, the Northern Regional Planning Panel heard.

Tony Hart and Clyde Treadwell, consultants who represented land owners trying to develop the land, acknowledged the issues. They asked for a six-month extension for “specialist consultants” to resolve the problems.

Frustrated panel chair Paul Mitchell said: “The problem with that is that the application shouldn't have been lodged in the first place.”

“Every aspect of this application that needs further work … virtually none of the fundamental issues have been finally resolved.”

Mr Hart and Treadwell told the panel landowners would proceed to take Lismore City Council to the Land and Environment Court for a determination if the extension and DA was refused.

“We do not want to go to court but we will have to if there is no other avenue,” Mr Hart said.

Mr Mitchell said that would be “unfortunate” because it would be “an expensive burden” on Lismore residents.

BACKGROUND

NORTH COAST VOICES, Sunday, 11 December 2022:

Given the NSW Northern Regional Council is in the pocket of the Perrottet Government and that state government has passed law which allows it to facilitate landgrabs by professional property speculators, this matter is not going to end well for Lismore

Sleeping Lizard
IMAGE: displayed on change.org

Dunoon Dam proposal debate continues to concern many in Northern New South Wales

Echo NetDaily, 8 April 2022:

A locally-based NSW Nationals MLC was recently pressured over his lack of consultation with Indigenous custodians regarding the contentious Dunoon Dam proposal.

According to the February 24 Hansard transcript of NSW Parliament, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Ben Franklin, was asked by Greens MP, Cate Faehrmann, if he had attempted to meet with the Widjabul Wia-bal people around their concerns about the impending destruction of 25 sacred sites, ‘should the Dunoon Dam go ahead’.

He replied in part, ‘The short answer is that I have not met with them yet. I do not think they have reached out to ask for a visit. I may be wrong, but I do not think that is the case. Of course, I would be happy to meet with them. I am happy to meet with any Aboriginal organisation or community across this State as much as I possibly can if my diary will allow’.

Mr Franklin also refused to pre-empt the outcome of any meeting, and said that, ‘We must genuinely collaborate and listen to their aims and ambitions and concerns in order to address them effectively’.

I am happy to meet with them

He went on: ‘Can we do that in every situation? No, because there are a range of competing interests within government and they must all be balanced. But I make the commitment that I am happy to meet with them’.

He added there was no plan on the table for the Dunoon Dam, ‘though there has certainly been discussion, and a different position has been promulgated by Rous County Council after the recent local government elections, which may lead to other actions. At the moment there is no plan on the table’. for the Government’s consideration. When there is one, obviously that will need to be considered’……

Ben Franklin has been a Nationals MLC for the last 7 years, first in the NSW Baird Government, then the Berejiklian Government and finally in the Perrottet Government. He has been Minister for Aboriginal Affairs as well as Minister for the Arts since December 2021. These are his first ministerial roles.

Despite living in Northern New South Wales, Mr. Franklin has a spotty voting history when it comes to protecting the aesthetic, environmental, cultural, social & economic values of local communities against the interests of industry lobby groups and party political donors.

On 4 February 2022 in the NSW Legislative Council as he danced around the issues of strong opposition of the Widjabul Wia-bal people to the widespread inundation of sacred land in order to create a second dam on Rocky Creek, along with the loss of 25 ancestral stone burial sites, he clearly stated that he was; “a very proud member of a resident of the northern rivers region of New South Wales and member of the National Party. As such, I understand the critical importance of building water infrastructure as well…..that we must look at what we need to do to build water and other infrastructure in this State”.

Mr. Franklin further stated that; “we must also be incredibly sympathetic to the concerns of Aboriginal people”.

Given his advocacy on sensitive issues often does not survive when it comes to the vote he casts in the Upper House, I am not all that hopeful that he will genuinely assist the Widjabul Wia-bal people to protect Country.

One suspects that he is likely to be more closely aligned with Kevin Hogan the Nationals MP for Page, one of only two federal electorates in the Northern Rivers, who clearly favours dam proposals.

The 43 seconds when without a moment's thought Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison betrayed the Widjabul Wia-bal people, the unique biodiverse & culturally significant Channon Gorge and the clear wishes of what appear to be a majority of Lismore residents

Listen to this part of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's question and answer segment at the end of his Wednesday 9 March 2022  press conference in Lismore in the NSW Northern River region. 

This is the sacred land, with gorge, watercourse, ancient stone burials and secret business places that Morrison supports destroying. The place where once the water is stopped from flowing freely will permanently inundate core endangered Koala habitat and eradicate endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod breeding habitat.

And for what? The proposed 50 gigalitre Dunoon Dam on Rocky Creek in a catchment area of roughly 50 sq km, even when combined with the existing 14 gigalitre dam on the same creek, would never mitigate or stop flooding of Lismore City and environs.   

I note that Morrison openly blames unspecified Northern Rivers residents who have "resisted" flood mitigation measures (hold all term which includes dams and levees) for the frequency and severity of flood events in recent years.

Labor Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin took the healthy rivers & water security concerns of residents in 7 Northern NSW local government areas to the Legislative Assembly - predictably former mining consultant & Nationals Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis spoke against her & over 10,000 petitioners

 

Petition Debate - Clarence Valley Mininghttps://t.co/tRTOm5Ro9G
On Thursday 14 October 2021, the Legislative Assembly of NSW debated the CCA No Mines petition calling on the LA to stop exploration or mining within the Clarence Valley and surrounding government area.

— ClarenceEnviroCentre💧 (@cecenviro) October 21, 2021

 

This video covers the full acceptance of petition debate concerning the "STOP CANGAI MINE" petition.

This debate was distinguished by the sheer number of misstatements of fact and untruths uttered by members of the NSW Perrottet Coalition Government.