Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee

 

 

Meeting Date:     Monday, 17 February 2020

Location:            Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time:                   4.00pm

 

 

The following members were present:

 

Ms Sue-Anne Cutmore - Chairperson

Clr John Levett

Clr Nina Digiglio

Ms Patricia Lester

Mr Shane Brown

Ms Leonie Ebzery

Mr Charlie Ashby

Ms Nicole Moore

Ms Valda Corrigan

 

Others Present:

Ms Margaret Simoes - Community Development Officer – Aboriginal

Janaya Hennessy – Community Development Cadet - Aboriginal

 

Shaun Clay – Team Supervisor – Compliance

Ryan Schulter – Acting Senior Community Development Officer

Sara McMahon – Governance Unit Manager

 

Apologies / Leave of Absence

Apologies were received from Clr Findley, Clr White, Clr Kitchener, Janet Atkins and Caryn Carpenter.

 

 

A minute’s silence in Respect of Aboriginal Elders, Past and Present.

 

 

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Sue-Anne Cutmore / Nicole Moore)

That the Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee held on Monday 11 November 2019 be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

Declarations of Interest

Nil

 

 

Presentations

 

AA20.1       Cullunghutti Plan of Management - Bigfoot Compliance

HPERM Ref: D19/448373

Staff from Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Group and NPWS are invited to provide information on the maintenance of the land, and clarification on Bigfoot and its approval to operate on the whole track to the summit of Cullunghutti.

Valda gave an overview of Cullinghutti and the DRAFT Management Interim Statement prepared in consultation with the Community in a PowerPoint presentation.

Sara McMahon read an email from Rose O’Sullivan from National Parks and Wildlife, in response to the invitation to this meeting. The email outlined that

·         The site inspection of Cullinghutti last year did not identify harm to Aboriginal objects

·         Given this, we are unable to take any further compliance action at this point

·         We strongly support the suggested Plan of Management for the privately owned land. This is likely to provide a better avenue for improving heritage management at Cullunghutti.

·         We would value the chance to meet at a later date with the Advisory Committee about how we my be able to support the Plan of Management. It be useful for staff from Heritage NSW to also have the chance to attend that meeting.

·         If you would like to meet with us about the Plan of Management, please let me know and we can arrange a meeting.

 

 

AA20.6       Additional Item - Big Foot Adventures DA Compliance

Shaun Clay, Team Supervisor - Compliance provided an overview to the report.

Charlie Ashby presented photographs taken at Cullunghutti showing damage he believes to have been incurred to the mountain as a result of the BigFoot Adventures Tour operations.

The Committee discussed the Development Consent which was in place for those operations. A copy of the Consent, being a public document , will be provided to the Committee to assist in their understanding of what is permitted on the site. 

The committee expressed disappointment in the current uses of the land and it’s impacts upon the heritage of this significant site.

RECOMMENDATION (By consent)

That:

1.      The Director of Planning, Environment and Development continue compliance review of BigFoot Adventures on Cullunghutti Mountain.

2.      The Director of Planning, Environment and Development provide regular updates to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee on the compliance of BigFoot Adventures on Cullunghutti Mountain with its DA. 

3.      A further invitation be extended to Heritage NSW and Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (Biodiversity and Conservation) to attend an extra ordinary meeting of the committee to discuss the protection of Cullunghutti and other significant cultural sites.

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

 

AA20.5       Bigfoot Adventures Coolangatta Estate
1335 Bolong Road Coolangatta

HPERM Ref: D20/2850

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (By consent)

That the report be received for information.

CARRIED

 

 

Reports

 

AA20.2       Aboriginal Advisory Committee Status Action Report

HPERM Ref: D20/4173

Margaret Simoes provided an overview of the contents of the Status Action Report.

AAC19. 18 Margaret suggested that Committee members send in locations that may be culturally significant, so that Council can work towards recognising them as such by way of plaques, commemorative signs etc. The Committee identified areas of Sussex Inlet ( Berrara) , Manyana and Jerry Bailey Cemetery at Shoalhaven Heads as possible locations for the signs.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1.      Receive the November 2019 Status report for information, and

2.      The following actions noted as completed and removed from the action table:

a.      Item No: AA19.22 - Aboriginal Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference - Quorum /Frequency of Meetings

b.      Item No: AA19.25 - Cullunghutti Management Plan

c.      Item No: AA19.26 - Masterplan for Marriott Park

d.      Item No: AA19.27 - Huskisson Church Site – Development - Aboriginal Advisory Committee Consultation - Future Developments - Aboriginal Cultural Impact

 

RESOLVED (By consent)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1.      Receive the November 2019 Status report for information, and

2.      The following actions noted as completed and removed from the action table:

a.      Item No: AA19.22 - Aboriginal Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference - Quorum /Frequency of Meetings

b.      Item No: AA19.25 - Cullunghutti Management Plan

c.      Item No: AA19.26 - Masterplan for Marriott Park

d.      Item No: AA19.27 - Huskisson Church Site – Development - Aboriginal Advisory Committee Consultation - Future Developments - Aboriginal Cultural Impact

CARRIED

 

 

 

AA20.3       Update - Marriott Park Landscape Master Plan

HPERM Ref: D20/8415

Ryan Schulter spoke in relation to Marriott Park Master Plan.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1.    Accept this update of the progress of the Marriott Park Landscape Master Plan for information.

2.    If necessary, provide comment as part of the public exhibition of the draft Master Plan. This feedback will be considered for inclusion in the final document.

RESOLVED (By consent)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1.    Accept this update of the progress of the Marriott Park Landscape Master Plan for information.

2.    If necessary, provide comment as part of the public exhibition of the draft Master Plan. This feedback will be considered for inclusion in the final document.

CARRIED

 

 

Note: Clr Levett left the meeting at 6:15pm

 

AA20.4       Shoalhaven Libraries Oral History Project  - Proposal for Information

HPERM Ref: D20/29381

The Committee discussed the report and Margaret Simoes suggested that members of the Committee who would like to participate in the project should contact Shoalhaven Libraries.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee receive the report on the Shoalhaven Libraries Oral History Project for information.

 

RESOLVED (By consent)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee receive the report on the Shoalhaven Libraries Oral History Project for information.

CARRIED

 

 

AA20.5       Bigfoot Adventures Coolangatta Estate
1335 Bolong Road Coolangatta

HPERM Ref: D20/2850

 

Item dealt with earlier/later in the meeting.

 

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

AA20.7       Additional Item - Huskisson Church Development

The Committee discussed the previous resolution of the Council from 26 November 2019 about consultation with this group with respect to further development on the Church site, and their disappointment that despite that resolution consultation did not occur with respect to the Planning Proposal for the site recently approved by the Council.

The committee discussed that this process demonstrates an important decision making process which is contradictory to the Statement of Commitment adopted by the Council.  Committee members advised that they would consider further how this matter could be addressed.

 

AA20.8       Additional Item - Terms of Reference

The current terms of reference and areas where clarification/ correction is needed formed part of discussions at a workshop of the Committee held on Thursday 13 February.

The terms of reference are to be discussed and reviewed at the next meeting.

It was agreed that Statement of Commitment wording should be displayed at the beginning of the business paper, and referred to in the Terms of Reference.

 

 

AA20.9       Additional Item – Vacancies in Membership

The committee was advised that Noel Wellington has resigned from the committee.  An Expression of Interest will be undertaken to fill the vacancy.

There are also currently two youth representative positions vacant. A report will be presented to the committee to fill the two Youth member positions.

The next meeting is scheduled for 4 May 2020. Members raised concerns about being without youth representation for such a long period. To allow for the new members to be appointed prior to May ( with later resolution by Council)  it is proposed to hold an Extra ordinary meeting on 11 March 2020. 

 

RESOLVED (By consent)

That

1.      The resignation of Noel Wellington be accepted and a letter be sent thanking him for his contribution to the committee.

2.      An extra ordinary meeting be scheduled for 11 March 2020 to fill the current youth vacancies in membership.

CARRIED

 

 

Note: Patricia Lester left the meeting at 7:09 pm.

 

Quorum lost - meeting closed.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 7:09 pm.

 

 

Ms Sue-Anne Cutmore

CHAIRPERSON