A site visit this weekend to the North Lismore Plateau by Lismore City councillors, developers and Aboriginal representatives has been postponed to allow police to investigate a grave believed to contain two bodies.
Echonetdaily reported recently that a report by Georadar Pty Ltd for the Everick Heritage Consultants, who are acting for the developers, presented the results of a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey performed on 18 January 2017 at the Winten Property Group Site on the North Lismore Plateau.
Bundjalung elder Mickey Ryan, an opponent of the development, has been pushing for the investigation into the gravesite as part of his opposition to a proposed housing estate on the plateau that would cater to 3600 people.
Lismore City Council yesterday confirmed that the proposed site visit this weekend had now been cancelled to allow police to carry out their investigations.
Mr Ryan, who has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission about his treatment by the council and developers, said the gravesite should have been reported when it was first discovered.
‘The council and the developer’s consultant failed to report, as is required the discovery of human remains. That burial could be a crime scene, an Aboriginal burial or as is being put by the developer without forensic evidence, the graves of European settlers.
‘This shows the lack of respect that council and the developer have for even their own heritage.’
A Lismore City Council spokesperson said police had not informed the council when the investigation would be completed.
She said the outcome of the investigation would ‘inform the development of the Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the Winten Group site’ on the Plateau.
‘The impact of the police investigations on the timing of the development will not be clear until after the police have completed their investigations,’ she said.
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