Call for burial details in Deebing Ck development fight
THE battle to protect the last portion of the old Deebing Creek Aboriginal Mission has gathered momentum with the local MP calling for more detailed surveys of the site and greater consultation on the planned development.
Member for Lockyer Ian Rickuss said he would speak to local indigenous groups and organise meetings with the appropriate ministers on plans for the site.
"This is about grave sites. This is about cemeteries," he said.
"We don't go into white cemeteries willy-nilly and start bulldozing them down.
"We have moved cemeteries at times but it is done with due care and real consideration to any relatives.
"This is someone's forebearers. This is someone's family members so let's treat this appropriately."
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Mr Rickuss said the site had to be surveyed in further detail and better consultation had to occur before the proposal progressed.
Developers Australand and the site's owner Daryll Kelly's Deebing Developments have put forward proposals for a 600-home development on the site.
The site began as a mission in 1887 and operated until 1915 when the mission relocated to Purga.
Asked for his position on development of the heritage-listed site, Minister for Heritage Protection Steven Miles did not respond but a Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) spokeswoman was quick to comment on the land being located within the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area.
"The Former Deebing Creek Mission is listed as a place on the Queensland Heritage Register. It is also located within the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area," the EHP spokeswoman said.
She said an application for an Exemption Certificate under section 72 of the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 was lodged with EHP by Australand on July 17 this year to carry out some low impact contaminated land analysis and approved on August 5.
"The application was supported by an archaeologist's report. One of the conditions of approval requires that the department is notified of the commencement of works. To date, the department has not received a notification of the commencement of works."
Australand would not comment on the proposed development.