Indigenous artefacts found under Sydney light rail construction site
Indigenous heritage consultant Scott Franks has called for work on Sydney's light rail stable yard to stop after thousands of artefacts are found.
PT2M1S 620 349An Indigenous heritage group is applying for an urgent order under federal laws for a halt to work on a proposed tram stabling yard at Randwick, following the discovery of thousands of artefacts at the site.
The discovery of some 22,000 artefacts, many of which are said to come from outside Sydney, has potentially shone a light on Indigenous trade and transit routes through the region.
But the discovery could also lead to delays of the construction of the $2.1-billion light rail line from the city to the eastern suburbs, planned to be open within three years.
![The site intended to be used as a stabling yard for light rail vehicles.](/web/20160403121407im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/t/4/6/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gnw90i.png/1459563111494.jpg)
The site intended to be used as a stabling yard for light rail vehicles. Photo: Christopher Pearce
On Friday, Transport for NSW said the area contained a "substantial collection of tools and stone off-cuts, suggesting this was the site where such things were manufactured".
But the department said the artefacts could be preserved even as work on the stabling yard continued nearby.
"The area of Aboriginal historic interest is less than 200 square metres on a site measuring more than 20,000 square metres – less than 1 per cent of the overall site," it said.
![Some of the more than 20,000 artefacts located at the proposed stabling yard.](/web/20160403121407im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/t/e/l/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gnw90i.png/1459563111494.png)
Some of the more than 20,000 artefacts located at the proposed stabling yard. Photo: Tocomwall
"Elsewhere on the site, it's critical that we continue preparations for building a city-changing public transport project."
However Tocomwall, one of four registered Aboriginal parties contracted to advise on heritage issues along the route, has rejected this assessment. According to Tocomwall's Scott Franks, Transport for NSW and its contractor Acciona were trying to "isolate" the size of the discovery.
"That site represents one very small section of the overall area," Mr Franks said. "If you look at it, that's the shed, but where's the kitchen, where's the nursery, they are all there."
![Heritage consultants have estimated there may be about 50,000 artefacts at the site.](/web/20160403121407im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/t/e/m/a/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gnw90i.png/1459563111494.png)
Heritage consultants have estimated there may be about 50,000 artefacts at the site. Photo: Tocomwall
Mr Franks is supporting an application under sections 9 and 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, under which the Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, can order the temporary or permanent preservation of the site.
Greens MP David Shoebridge on Friday sent the application to Mr Hunt.
However one of the other Registered Aboriginal Parties, the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, has disagreed with some of the claims made about the site.
![Artefacts found at the Randwick site](/web/20160403121407im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/t/e/l/9/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gnw90i.png/1459563111494.png)
Artefacts found at the Randwick site Photo: Tocomwall
"The density of artefacts that are there is significant; for them to be intact, this site is significant," said Chris Ingrey, the chief executive of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council.
"Culturally, the significance of the material, at the moment from what we can understand, is not as significant as is being made out from other RAPs [Registered Aboriginal Parties], but scientifically and archaeologically it is," Mr Ingrey said.
Mr Franks' son, Danny, a Wonnarua man from the Hunter Valley, identified some of the stone artefacts on the site as coming from the Hunter region.
Transport for NSW said it was "thought by all who've participated in the work that the stone in question is not local, with the Nepean, Upper Hunter and coastal areas of the Illawarra viewed as possible places where the stone originated".
"Further study of this find could yield new understanding of how Aboriginal tribes travelled, traded and interacted between one other."