Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee

 

 

Meeting Date:     Tuesday, 6 December 2022

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

Time:                   5:38pm

 

 

The following members were present:

 

Mr Michael Paine - Manager - Community Connections – (CEO Nominee) - CONVENOR

Clr Amanda Findley – joined meeting at 5:39pm

Clr John Kotlash – joined meeting at 5:38pm

Clr Liza Butler (Remotely) – joined meeting at 5:38pm

Clr Tonia Gray (Remotely) – left meeting at 5:29pm

Ms Janet Atkins

Mr Shane Brown

Ms Natalie Lloyd

Mr Jason Groves - Nowra LALC

Mr Alfred Wellington - Jerrinja LALC (Remotely) – joined meeting at 5:39pm

 

Others Present:

 

Ms Sarah Waddell – Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley

Ms Jillian Naidu – Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley

Ms Chris Pryor  – Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley

Mr Gordon Clark – Section Manager – Strategic Planning

Ms Carly McWalters – Team Leader – Community Capacity Building

Mr Allen Bloxsome – Community Capacity Builder – Aboriginal

Ms Brooke Aldous – Governance Coordinator (Remotely/In Person)

Mr Ryleigh Bowman – Design Engineer (Remotely) – joined meeting at 6:04pm

 

 

Michael Paine - Manager - Community Connections assumed the role of Convenor for this meeting.

 

Due to there being no quorum it was decided that the presentation from Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley be heard, noting no recommendations / resolutions could be made prior to quorum being reached.

 

 

A Minute Silence in Respect of Aboriginal Elders, Past and Present

 

A Minute Silence in Respect of Aboriginal Elders, Past and Present was held.

 

 

Presentation

 

AA22.19     Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley Presentation

HPERM Ref: D22/409095

Ms Sarah Waddell, Ms Jillian Naidu and Ms Chris Pryor attended the meeting on behalf of Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley. The group consists of approximately 50 community members.

Ms Sarah Waddell made a presentation to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee on behalf of the Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley group regarding the proposed community consultation concerning Cultural Signage.

The group is seeking consultation on cultural signage from local Indigenous communities and organisations, Elders, and interested individuals. The purpose of the consultation will be to receive inputs regarding support for cultural signage in Kangaroo Valley to recognise custodianship by Indigenous peoples and continuing connection to Country. This is a community-based initiative supported by Shoalhaven City Council through the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

Mr Jason Groves suggested that this initiative be promoted through the Aboriginal Lands Council meetings to reach the broader Aboriginal community. He noted that there was significant historical stone trading through the Kangaroo Valley area, of which there is written knowledge which carries the history timeline that could be considered, after this has been seen by the Aboriginal community. He also invited the members of the Reconciliation Allies attend the Family Fun Day for the Aboriginal community at Bomaderry Creek on Saturday, 10 December for the Black Cockatoo Project.

Action: Michael Paine - Manager - Community Connections made a commitment that Council staff will work with Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley:

1.      To ensure that the Invitation from Reconciliation Allies will be forwarded to all members of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee; and

2.      Through Allen Bloxsome and Jared Brown in Community Connections connect with other organisations within the Shoalhaven LGA.

 

 

Note:   Clr Gray left the meeting at 5:29pm.

Note:   Clr John Kotlash – joined meeting at 5:38pm

Note:   Clr Liza Butler (Remotely) – joined meeting at 5:38pm

Note:   Mr Alfred Wellington - Jerrinja LALC (Remotely) – joined meeting at 5:38pm and at this time quorum was reached and the meeting was opened.

Note:   Clr Amanda Findley – joined meeting at 5:39pm

 

 

Apologies / Leave of Absence

 

Apologies were received from Nicole Moore and Silvia Timbery.

 

 

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Natalie Lloyd / Nowra LALC - Jason Groves)

 

That the Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee held on Tuesday 08 November 2022 be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

 

Declarations of Interest

 

Nil.

 

 

Reports

 

AA22.34     Election of Chairperson

HPERM Ref: D22/501511

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee elect (insert name) as Chairperson for the period to September 2023, noting that the appointment will be reaffirmed by Council.

 

RESOLVED (By consent)

That this item be deferred to the next Aboriginal Advisory Committee meeting to be held on 28 February 2023.

CARRIED

 

 

 

General Business

 

AA22.35     Update - Huskisson Church - Alfred Wellington

HPERM Ref: D22/495241

Mr Alfred Wellington provided an update on the Huskisson Church Site to the Committee.

·         Community members have been asked to put in submissions under the Section 10 Permanent Protection Application which is currently in place.

·         Submission and petition closing date is Wednesday, 14 December 2022.

It was noted there will be a rally event held on Sunday, 11 December at 11:00am.

 

RESOLVED (Nowra LALC - Jason Groves / Natalie Lloyd)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee strongly support the requested Section 10 Application made under the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 for the former Anglican Church site at Huskisson, given that it is recognised as a site of significant heritage both culturally and historically, in accordance with Aboriginal Tradition.

CARRIED

 

 

Mr Allen Bloxsome - Community Capacity Builder – Aboriginal provided an update on the launch of Yilabara Solutions that was held today:

·         Employment agency in Shoalhaven that was established in July.

·         Main aim of the service is to employ Aboriginal people in all workplaces and provide support to Aboriginal people in all jobs and training, starting from late school.

·         It is strongly focused on culture.

·         Office locations are in Batemans Bay, Nowra and Wollongong

 

Note:   Mr Ryleigh Bowman – Design Engineer joined the meeting remotely at 6:02pm.

 

Note:   Ms Sarah Waddell, Ms Jillian Naidu and Ms Chris Pryor from Reconciliation Allies left the meeting at 6:04pm.

 

 

Presentation

 

AA22.33     Presentation on Mollymook Coastal Masterplan

HPERM Ref: D22/497846

Mr Ryleigh Bowman – Design Engineer gave a presentation on the Mollymook Coastal Masterplan to gain feedback from the Aboriginal Advisory Group to be included in the community consultation process:

·         All plans are available on Council’s Get Involved webpage.

·         Community Feedback closes 7 December 2022.

·         Feedback received will be available for review in late December 2022 / January 2023.

Mr Allen Bloxsome and Mr Jared Brown will work with Clr Butler to connect with the local Milton Ulladulla Aboriginal community to seek input on possible cultural signage to be included at the locations involved in the Masterplan.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 6:40pm.

 

 

Michael Paine

CONVENOR