ABORIGINAL artefacts found at the site of a council-approved residential development have unearthed questions about councillors not being notified about the discovery of culturally sensitive stone artefacts.
Cr Rosemary West wondered why a developer would be allowed to “build over and bury” Aboriginal artefacts found at 1-44 First Avenue, Chelsea Heights.
Councillors originally approved a subdivision of the First Avenue land into 25 lots in 2013 with work to begin on building homes by September 2018.
“There’s a lot to talk about with this developer and I hope we can get on with it soon,” Cr West said.
Cr West requested council officers confirm at the next council meeting that the First Avenue site is a Cultural Heritage Management Plan recognised site and if so, what council can do to “protect it from the impact of the approved development”.
Cr West’s notice of motion asked for an explanation about “why no information about the discovery of these artefacts was provided in the officer report to councillors or in the officer presentation to planning panel before council approved the rezoning and development of this site”.
Council will also investigate the possibility of preserving the artefacts for display in the Gathering Place for Elders at Kingston Council’s offices or another suitable site with the help of the Friends of the Edithvale Seaford Wetlands.
Council officers will submit a brief report to councillors at the December council meeting and a more detailed report in February next year.
An independent planning and heritage consultant will also be hired by council to advise whether further research and better protection for the site can be arranged.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 7 December 2016
