Minutes
Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee Meeting held Thursday 1 December 2022
Venue:
Fingal Head Rovers Surf Club and Virtual Meeting Time:
9:45 am Present:
Des Williams (TBLALC); Jackie McDonald (TWAECG); Leweena Williams (Tweed Aboriginal Corporation for Sport); Dale Williams (Bugalwena); Veronese Burgess (Canowindra) Cr Nola Firth (Councillor).
Ex-officio:
Jane Lofthouse, Helen Carter, Tim Appo, Sandra Freeman (Minutes) (Tweed Shire Council).
Apologies:
Victor Slockee (Canowindra), Tina Pidcock (Tweed Aboriginal Co-operative Society Limited).
Guests:
Sian Young, Charlize Appo (TSC), Aysha Kanuric (NSW Department of Customer Service).
Chairperson for meeting
Nominated: Jackie McDonald Moved: Des Williams Seconded: Veronese Burgess
RESOLVED: Jackie McDonald was nominated and unanimously elected to Chair the meeting.
Jackie opened the meeting with a welcome to all present and paid respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
Minutes of 5 August 2022:
Moved: Des Williams Seconded: Leweena Williams.
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee meeting held Friday 5 August 2022 be accepted with amendments as a true and accurate record of the proceedings of that meeting.
Minutes of 14 October 2022 - yet to be endorsed.
Minutes
Agenda Items
A1. Strategic Planning & Urban Design- Updating of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (ACHMP)
Sian provided details regarding the process of updating Council’s and TBLALC’s Cultural Heritage mapping. In addition, information was shared about the process required under legislation when cultural material is identified through excavation or other related works.
The procedure for updating the mapping is outlined in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Mapping Plan (ACHMP) under mapping and monitoring procedures. It outlines the key actions and responsibilities required for both Council and TBLALC to ensure the mapping remains current.
Council’s ACHMP identifies a need to set up an ongoing mapping review process to ensure currency of the information, as the last update was in 2014 from the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS).
Sian went through the procedure for updating the mapping system with the AAC so all involved were clear on their roles and responsibilities.
Moved: Leweena Williams Seconded: Dale Williams
RESOLVED that the Aboriginal Advisory Committee endorses TBLALC to request site data from Heritage Council of NSW and provide this information to Council as per Council’s request.
Action: Tim to organise a meeting between TBLALC and Council and make contact with Heritage NSW.
A2. Fair and Safe Together - Aboriginal Community Voice Network and Buying a Used Car
The Better Regulation Division of NSW Department of Customer Service is running a series of information sessions across the State designed to increase community awareness and understanding of NSW Fair Trading and SafeWork NSW support services.
Aysha Kanuric advised that the Northern Rivers area has been identified as a hot spot and the Department wants to provide information to the community about buying a second-hand car through:
step by step guides on the website
discussion with anyone on the ground in relation to issues
road show is based in Ballina and can provide online forums to local groups
newsletter is a good way to be informed on a monthly basis
brochures
Action: Tim to contact Aysha Kanuric to obtain more information about the services they can supply and forum opportunities to share information with the community.
Minutes
A3. Northern Rivers Rail Trail & Signage
Council requested that the AAC provide recommendations for an authorised person to perform the Welcome to Country at the opening ceremony for the new Rail Trail in February or March 2023.
Tim tabled the wording for the Welcome to Country sign and the AAC members approved to use. The sign will be displayed at both ends of the Rail Trail.
Action: Veronese to confirm with Canowindra board members and provide this to Tim by Tuesday 6 December.
Des Williams, Dale Williams and Leweena Williams have provided endorsement.
Moved: Dale Williams Seconded: Des Williams
RESOLVED that the Aboriginal Advisory Committee endorses the Welcome to Country and signage for Council to use for the Tweed Rail Trail.
A4. Acknowledgment of Country - Tweed Shire Council
Tim tabled the amended Acknowledgement of Country based on the outcome from the actions of the November 5, 2022, AAC meeting.
Aboriginal content from the TSC Communications and Writing Standards – ‘Tweed' to be added before each reference to Bundjalung referring to the area and/or people.
Full version: “We wish to recognise the generations of the local Aboriginal people of the Tweed Bundjalung (Bun-dja-lung) Nation who have lived in and derived their physical and spiritual needs from the forests, rivers, lakes and streams of this beautiful valley over many thousands of years as the traditional custodians of these lands.
Shorter version: A shorter, general version may also be used after the full
Acknowledgement of Country has been read (other speakers may wish to show their respects):
“I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.”
The AAC suggested amending the current version and adding ‘the local Aboriginal clans of the Bundjalung nation’.
Action: Tim to send a draft of proposed changes to the Acknowledgement of Country to AAC members.
A5. Pottsville Master Plan – Site Visit and Content, Burringbar Memorial Reserve and Masterson Park
Tim provided an overview of the recent site visit outcomes. Council requests that the AAC provides advice on the design of spaces, including Phillip Street Reserve, RSL Memorial Park, Ambrose Brown, and Hardy Park.
Minutes
Based on survey results the Pottsville community indicated they would prefer the markets to move over to the Memorial Oval and put more park activities in the Phillip Street Reserve, ie., Pump track, Skate Park, basketball, shade structures and chillout zones.
Tarra asked the AAC for feedback and the AAC advised they would prefer to let the Pottsville community decide on the outcomes.
Tarra informed the AAC that the Burringbar Memorial Reserve and Masterson Park Survey is also open if the AAC would like to provide any feedback.
Action: The AAC advised that they do not have a preference on where the new works on the parks are carried out and would prefer to leave this up to the Pottsville community.
A6. Planning Proposal for rezoning of land at Wardrop Valley Road Murwillumbah Darryl Anderson Consulting has submitted a refined scoping proposal accompanied by a package of updated technical reports for the rezoning of land at Wardrop Valley from farmland to employment land. An updated cultural heritage assessment has been carried out by Everick Heritage with this proposal.
Action: Tim to provide the members with the Everick Report for the rezoning of land at Wardrop Valley from farmland to employment land and defer discussion to 2023.
Matters Arising
MA1. Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct
Action: Tim to obtain any outstanding Declaration forms from Veronese and Uncle Victor.
MA2. Presenting a matter relating to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (ACHMP) Sian Young and Matthew Zenkteler
Council is seeking TBLALC’s advice on how to proceed, acknowledging that the recommendation from the ACHMP requires the TBLALC to apply to the Department of Heritage NSW for updated data so Council and TBLALC can update the mapping system.
Completed by Sian Young
MA3. Point Danger/Captain Cook Lighthouse Refurbishment
Tim provided an update on the artist engaged to carry out the work (Christine Slabb). Mark Upton provided Christine Slabb a sample tile to see if the artwork can be etched onto the tile. Due to the surface being very porous, a change in the scope of works will be required and an alternate solution to be investigated.
Mark has requested that the AAC engage with the City of Gold Coast’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee and come up with a Dual name for the Lighthouse.
Action: Tim to contact Shannon Best at City of Gold Coast and commence the consultation process for dual naming for the Point Danger/Captain Cook Lighthouse Refurbishment.
Minutes
Incoming Correspondence
IC1. Regent Cinema 77th Birthday Heritage Event - 'Time Travel Series’
Regent Cinema in Murwillumbah is applying for a grant which closes on 2 December and would like a support letter from the AAC. The AAC would like to see the actual application and project plan before providing any support letters.
Action: Tim to ask the Regent Cinema to provide the project plan for the application and in future the AAC would need more time to process the application and provide a support letter. It was agreed that due to the short time frame, the AAC was unable to provide a support letter on this occasion.
IC2. Tweed Conservation Strategy Workshop 16 December 2022 (Scott Benitez Hetherington)
Tim requested that the AAC attend a workshop on 16 December 2022 regarding the Tweed Conservation Strategy. The AAC would like additional information on the workshop prior to commencement and have agreed to attend.
Action: Scott to provide more information on the Tweed Conservation Strategy Workshop on 16 December 2022 to Tim Appo.
IC3. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Wollumbin/Mt Warning Closure Announcement
Tim tabled the generic response letter that Council was intending to use for any enquires from the public regarding the closure of Wollumbin/Mt Warning. Council has requested advice from the AAC. The AAC advised it does not endorse the draft letter prepared by Council. The AAC recommends that Council directs all public enquiries to National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Wollumbin Consultative Group consistent with the public announcement in the Ministerial Media Release by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Environment and Heritage released on 20 October 2022.
Moved: Des Williams Seconded: Leweena Williams
RESOLVED: That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee requests that Council directs all public enquiries regarding the closure of Wollumbin/Mt Warning to National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Wollumbin Consultative Group consistent with the public announcement in the Ministerial Media Release by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Environment and Heritage released on 20 October 2022.
General Business
GB1. Echidna Sculpture – Fingal Head
The Echidna sculpture has been refurbished and the Fingal Foreshore Park is open today.
GB2. Goorimahbah Update – Jack Evans Boat Harbour
Opening was planned for 16 December but has been postponed to 23 December 2022.
Signage will be added by the official opening in early February 2023.
Minutes
GB3. Soft Opening of Fingal Park & Echidna update
AAC members were advised that the park is open, and Tim provided a walk-through of the new upgraded Fingal Park at Marine Parade, Fingal Head for those who wished to attend at the end of the meeting.
GB4. Australia Day Awards and possible welcome to Country
The Kinship Festival Committee has been nominated for Community Event of the Year.
Tim asked if the AAC supports Deidre Currie performing a Welcome to Country again this year.
Action: AAC supports Deidre Currie performing a Welcome to Country at the 2023 Australia Day Ceremony.
GB5. Access to Fingal Foreshore Park in Village of Fingal
Discussion about access to the park for people with disability, noting that car parking impedes access into the park itself.
Action: Tim to discuss access to the Fingal Foreshore Park for people with disability with Council’s Traffic Management Officer, Ray Clark.
GB6. Boyd Family Park in Tweed Heads West
David Hannah brought to Jackie McDonald’s attention that a blackbutt tree has been cut down and another tree has been vandalised. Jane Lofthouse advised that Council is unaware why this has happened and has been monitoring the area for illegal activity.
Council received advice from a qualified arborist and have put in measures to try to save the tree.
GB7. International Day of People with A Disability Event on 3 December 2022
A flyer was provided to members of the AAC, noting that Ernie Williams will be performing the Welcome to Country on behalf of the Coodjinburra people.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee will be held Friday 3 February 2023.
The meeting closed at 11.30am.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM’S COMMENTS:
Nil.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM’S RECOMMENDATIONS:
Nil.
