91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳

By Tony Iltis WOLLONGONG — A proposed luxury marina at Shellharbour is being opposed by local Kooris because of the area's historical and cultural significance. The $750 million development would also destroy the Bass Point site's unique wetlands environment and restrict public access to the south Shellharbour beach. Reuben Brown of the Korewal Elouera Jerrungerah Tribal Elders Corporation spoke to 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly about the importance of the site to local Aborigines, and how their claim to the land would preserve the area's environment and access for the whole community. Bass Point was the scene of a grisly chapter in Australia's unwritten colonial history. "Where they want to build the marina is very sacred to us. There are middens and skeletons buried there", Brown explained. "Our ancestors were killed there and our great, great grandfather shot and wounded. His mother was killed along with the other women and children so that D'Arcy Wentworth could acquire this land. It's just lucky he got saved. They brought him back down, and he grew up to be the chief of the whole area. Wollongong is named after this person. That's why we want to stop [the marina]." The site is also home to a number of rare species of marine life. "There's unique coral; we've got some dated there up to 500 years old, and there is the blue devil fish, a sacred fish named after a tribal elder. The devil fish has only 12 [remaining habitats], and we've got the only ones left in this part of Australia. There's also the green bell frog." Brown said that if the development goes ahead, "The sand will just cover everything because of the way they plan to close the entrance with the breakwater". The marina proposal is currently the subject of a public inquiry. Following the commission's recommendations, the state government will hand down a decision in March. If the development is allowed to go ahead, Brown says that the Tribal Elders Corporation will ask federal minister for Aboriginal affairs Robert Tickner to intervene using the Aboriginal Heritage Act. If this fails they plan to take the issue before international bodies. "We're not threatening anyone — we're just saying these are our options." Shellharbour councillor and marina opponent Russell Hannah told the commission on January 16 that the proposal will cost Shellharbour residents $600 each for the dubious benefit of losing a beach and a wetland. A number of other Shellharbour councillors have also opposed the development. Brown said that they have been asking why the existing harbour isn't used. "It's right in the middle of town, and will draw in tourism and build up the town again." Marina supporters have held up employment creation as a supposed benefit. Yet, as local environmentalist George Petersen told the commission, only 95 jobs will be created during the marina's construction, and there will be 12 jobs once it is completed (half of which will be reserved for local people). However, the project's developer, the Walker Corporation, has received strong backing from the local big business media. An editorial in the January 13 Illawarra Mercury was devoted to slandering Brown and the Korewal Elouera Jerrungerah Tribal Elders Corporation, and demanded "an investigation to check credentials before it goes around making noises about sacred sites". Brown was unfazed by the media criticism. "They can say what they want to say", he told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly. "If we're successful, the beach that they're going to cut in half and the wetlands that they're going to remove will be saved. If we don't win, there'll be nothing left for the community. "The yachts that are going to come in [will be] worth nothing under a million, and the berth will cost $100,000. Where's the working person [who] can afford that? "People used to walk from one end of the beach to the other, but they won't be able to. They'll have to make an eight kilometre trek around this marina to get to another spot on the beach where they're going to put this channel in. It's just ludicrous. "If we get control of this area, we're going to put in elevated wooden walkways, leave the middens as they are, fence off certain areas and put plaques down saying 'This is what happened here' and 'This is who's buried here'. We want to share it with all communities, and share our heritage with our children and grandkids."