Aboriginal corporation lodges legal fight over Victoria Park
The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) made the application under federal legislation that allows the Commonwealth to declare long-term protection of a significant Aboriginal area under threat of injury or desecration.
'It was a complete shock when the premier came out with his stadium plans,' YMAC spokeswoman and Yagarabul elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said.
'He said the park would be protected from stadiums; I thought the park was safe. Now the government wants to destroy it.'
Charlton said Barrambin was 'living Country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems'.
'We know this is a place of great significance and history, not only for Yagara people, but for other First Nations and non-Aboriginal people as well.
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'We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems existing there.
'There may be ancestral remains. We stand resolute in our responsibility to protect it.'
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As it happened: Brisbane on Tuesday, August 5
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Sky News AU
33 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation lodge federal application to halt Olympic stadium in Victoria Park, Brisbane
A last-ditch bid to halt the development of a 63,000-seat Olympic stadium in the heart of Brisbane has been lodged with the Federal government, over claims the area is among the city's 'most significant' First Nations sites. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) lodged the application on Tuesday, asking for the Commonwealth to declare long-term protection of the area. Such a move could undermine the LNP State Government's plans for the stadium in Victoria Park – earmarked as one of the centrepieces of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. YMAC spokeswoman Gaja Kerry Charlton told the ABC the court action was necessary to protect the site. 'We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems existing there. There may be ancestral remains,' she told the outlet. YMAC's court action has been lodged under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (ATSIHP). The legislation effectively allows the Federal government to protect the area if the Federal Environment Minister is satisfied it is a 'significant Aboriginal area' or is 'under threat of injury or desecration'. Such legislation would trump laws passed by the State Government in June, which made Olympic projects like the Victoria Park stadium exempt from heritage and planning laws. In a statement, a State Government spokeswoman said the government was committed to 'ensuring the Games deliver a generational infrastructure legacy across Queensland'. 'The Crisafulli Government's new laws underpin the delivery of Games infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities beyond 2032,' the spokeswoman continued. 'The new laws provide a bespoke process that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage matters, incorporating engagement and consultation with relevant parties and preparation of a cultural heritage management plan.' Advocacy group Save Victoria Park worked has been vocal in their campaign to permanently protect the area, with the group's spokeswoman Sue Bremner speaking on 4BC Radio on Tuesday about the uphill battle they were facing. 'The State Government has pretty much suspended all relevant legislation, or certainly curtailed, anybody's ability to have an impact on the planning of the Olympic stadium,' she told the program. Ms Bremner said the group were working in partnership with YMAC on the legal action. She countered questions about why the legislation was being used now to oppose the stadium's development, in light of Victoria Park's history of being used as a golf course, rifle range and encampment for WWII American soldiers, by saying the current redevelopment plans were vastly different. 'The park has grown up with Brisbane, and it's gone through various stages,' Ms Bremner said. 'One thing about a golf course … is that it doesn't change the topography as much. The ridges where the First Nations people camped for thousands of years are still there,' she said. 'That is not going to be the case if this stadium build goes ahead. 'Make no mistake, there's no way you can have a platform flat enough and big enough to build one of these things. They're 14 stories high, they're massive, massive places.' The office of Murray Watt – the current Federal Environment Minister who will decide on the protection of Victoria Park – has been contacted for comment. Major hurdle cleared for 'best Games ever' In July, a landmark funding agreement between the Federal and State Governments unlocked $3.4bn in federal contributions, confirming a combined $7.1bn Games Venue Infrastructure program to deliver 17 new or upgraded sporting venues across Queensland ahead of the games. The Victoria Park stadium was one of the promised projects and set to host the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletics events. Major sporting teams such as the Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls have also expressed interest in calling the stadium home in the future.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan
A site of Indigenous significance at Brisbane's Victoria Park is at risk, an Aboriginal group says. (HANDOUT/Save Victoria Park) A site of Indigenous significance at Brisbane's Victoria Park is at risk, an Aboriginal group says. (HANDOUT/Save Victoria Park) Credit: AAP An Indigenous group has launched an application to stop controversial plans to develop a park with cultural significance as the 2032 Olympic centrepiece. The group wants the Commonwealth to step in and save inner Brisbane's Victoria Park, which is set to become the 2032 games hub, hosting a $3.7 billion, 63,000-seat main stadium. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has lodged an application with the federal government to protect the park, warning the 2032 plans will cause "long-term injury" to a site of Indigenous significance. The main stadium is set to be built at a park that contains stories, archaeological evidence, possible ancestral remains and ancient trees, the corporation's Uncle Steven said. He also believes there's potential for further Aboriginal heritage research at the park, but fears that won't happen if it's bulldozed for the Olympics. "Once it's lost, it's gone forever," the Yagara elder told AAP. "This is about trying to protect the cultural heritage for future generations, for our First Nations children, for non-First Nations children - it's the history of Queensland." The clock is ticking to construct the 2032 venues after Queensland's Liberal National government finally unveiled its blueprint in March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named the Olympics host. It also fast-tracked legislation to override 15 environmental and heritage acts to speed up the 2032 build. This ensured the government could bypass existing laws to construct the main stadium at Victoria Park, despite half of it being state heritage-listed. "The state government has gone to a lot of trouble to take away any democratic rights that we had to be consulted, or to make submissions about the proposals, so we've gone to the federal legislation," Save Victoria Park's Sue Bremner told AAP. Save Victoria Park has backed the corporation lodging an application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. If successful, the federal government could declare the long-term protection of the park and halt any development. But the legal process may take years, sparking fears among activists that the park may be bulldozed before a decision is made. Ms Bremner warned the group is willing to look at alternative emergency action to halt shovels in the ground in support of the corporation. Uncle Steven said the application was not about stopping development for the 2032 Games at other locations but instead about protecting Victoria Park's values and history. "We don't want to hold progress up. We don't want to stop people from enjoying the facilities that may come with 2032," he said. "But just stop a moment and have a look at what's already been destroyed and impacted in southeast Queensland, and have a little bit of thoughtfulness towards it and work out something more appropriate." A state government spokesperson defended the 2032 venue plan, claiming recent legislation would still recognise Aboriginal heritage matters. "The Crisafulli government's new laws underpin the delivery of Games infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities beyond 2032," the spokesperson said. "The new laws provide a bespoke process that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage matters, incorporating engagement and consultation with relevant parties and preparation of a cultural heritage management plan." A damning report last week revealed the Games blueprint may not be completed in time due to a productivity drop. But Treasurer David Janetzki said the government was up to the 2032 challenge.
