LOCAL LAND COUNCIL CHALLENGES CHARCOAL PLANT

The Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council today announced its opposition to the construction of a Charcoal Plant on the NSW South Coast and has rejected claims that it was consulted over the project.

"We're deeply concerned about the impact of this proposed charcoal plant, not just on the Aboriginal people of this area, but on the whole community," Mogo LALC Co-ordinator Fred Nye said today.

The Environmental Impact Study for the proposed site near Mogo, conducted by Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd, is now available for public comment.

"That document states that we were consulted over this. That's grossly misleading and we've written to the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning outlining our concerns. This document is an affront to us, and we feel we have been misrepresented," Mr Nye said.

"Let's be clear about this. A brief site visit by one of our junior officers, a couple of cursory phone calls and three short faxes, do not amount to consultations.

"We'd also like the public to know that in its limited contact with us, Environmental Resources Management Australia did not even use the words 'charcoal plant', but instead talked vaguely about a non-specific site survey. We'd like to know why," he said.

"We'd also like to make it perfectly clear that despite certain assertions in the EIS, we were not involved in the formulation of any recommendations it contains."

Mr Nye said the Mogo LALC had grave concerns about the possibility of toxic run-off from the proposed charcoal plant site.

"There is a waterhole located north east of that site and it is fed by an underground stream. It has strong cultural significance for us. The area surrounding that site also boasts a number of Aboriginal middens and scarred trees.

Middens provide evidence of traditional meeting places and scarred trees were used for the production of ancient Aboriginal tools.

"They are a record of Aboriginal occupation of this area pre-white man and must be preserved, not just for Aboriginal people but for all Australians. We should all be working to protect this region's rich cultural heritage," he said.

The Mogo LALC's position has been endorsed by the Far South Coast Regional Land Council and by the State's peak body, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.

"Once again, Aboriginal people are being left out of the process," NSWALC Chairman Rod Towney said today.

"This area has very high Aboriginal cultural values and the local Indigenous people must be involved in the process.

"Add to that the environmental significance of the wetland areas that surround the project site, and one has to wonder why on earth such a proposal is even being considered.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Council calls on the State Government to do the responsible thing and insist this charcoal facility be located elsewhere, where Aboriginal culture and heritage and significant environmental areas are not going to be threatened," Chairman Towney concluded.

The Eurobodalla Shire Council has called a public meeting for 2pm today (Sunday 16th) at the Bateman's Bay Soldiers' Club.