Archaeologists will be assessing the discovery of a potential Indigenous midden in the path of a new transport hub for Byron Bay.
A stop work order was placed on the site last Tuesday by Transport for NSW contractor Hazell Bros.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Echonetdaily, ‘While excavating for the public car park contractors noticed some shells under the removed asphalt. All work in the area was stopped. The area was fenced off and the Sydney Trains unexpected finds protocol was followed’.
A spokesperson from Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation (Arakwal), who are the Native Title holders for the area, told Echonetdaily that the right procedure has been followed and the site was reported to the Arakwal Corporation and the Environment Line for the action of the compliance team, who will assess the area.
Affected Butler Street residents are opposed to the transport hub’s location, which was decided without public consultation by the NSW government.
A spot where ancient humans threw their leftovers stops bus interchange! Pull the other one.
Why can’t the small section of rail track in front the station office and Railway Bar be covered over and used instead? Buses could easily get in and out there if done right. Then no need for a new building or as much disruption to the people who live over the road! And the midden remains as it should. Makes sense to me!