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STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA VS WESTRALIA AIRPORTS CORPORATION (WAC)

On Tuesday 6 November 2007 at Perth Magistrates Courts the Westralia Airports Corporation pleaded GUILTY to a breach of Section 17 of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act - Damaging and Destroying Ancient Aboriginal Sites for the Coles/Myer Distribution Centre.

As far as we know this is only the FIFTH prosecution of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in 35 years.

NYUNGAH ELDERS AND TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE SWAN RIVER AND SWAN COASTAL PLAINS SAY THAT THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY DESTRUCTIONS AND THREATS TO THEIR SACRED SITES AT THE AIRPORT LAND.

‘IF THE WAC IS GOING TO PLEAD GUILTY THEN WE WANT THE WAC TO RECOGNISE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION AND DESECRATION OF OUR SACRED SITES ON AIRPORT BUSH LAND AND WATERWAYS.’ SAID THE NYUNGAH ELDERS.

‘WE ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT MUNDAY SWAMP - THE SACRED PLACE OF OUR ANCESTORS - AND THE EFFECT OF CONTAMINATION OF THE UNDERGROUND STREAMS FROM THE BRICKWORKS THAT ARE NOW BEING BUILT ON AIRPORT LAND’, STATED NYUNGAH ELDERS. ‘WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE WATER THAT HAS BEEN DRAINED AWAY FROM MUNDAY SWAMP BY WAC BY THE DIVERTING OF POISON GULLY CREEK. THE WATER OF POISON GULLY CREEK MUST BE RESTORED BACK TO MUNDAY SWAMP BY WAC IMMEDIATELY.’

Serious Offences by Westralia Airports Corporation
Munday Swamp and Perth Airport Land