It may seem difficult to keep up with the epic battle for Banyam Biagham, the North Lismore Plateau.
Surely it’s all sorted by now? So you might think, but the fight to protect Aboriginal heritage is often a long hard one. There are many envious eyes turned to high ground around Lismore, and rightly so. We must build above the floods. This is a no-brainer.
The combination of this logical push for high ground and developers supported by Council planning has put this incredibly significant Bundjalung heritage at high risk of destruction.
Here’s a quick summary: in 2012, Lismore Council drew up a plan to cut the Plateau into three main sections for development.
- Southern section: After many objections from Lismore folks, the Council handed back the Southern section of land to Widjabul Wiabal Native Title holders. Then the new Lismore Council tried to take it back again, but that’s another story…
- Middle section: the Winton development was wiped out by the 2022 flood.
- Northern section: The large Northern section was set to be developed by a big Sydney developer to slice up into many roads and housing lots.
A group of locals, the North Lismore Plateau Protection Association (NLPPA), led by Uncle Mickey (Widjabul Wiabal elder) fought over many years to save country. The NLPPA are self-funded and maintained the litigation by events, market stalls, donations and personal savings.
Supporting the NLPPA regarding their legal rights, Al Oshlack representing traditional owner and custodian of the North Lismore Plateau, explains: “The recent win by Traditional Owner and Wiyabal Elder, Micky Ryan, in the Land and Environment Court, to protect the North Lismore Plateau from development is truly historical.
“The litigation involving the biggest single proposed development on the North Coast (the northern section of the Plateau) was set to destroy one of the most significant Aboriginal sites within the Bundjalung nation.”
“It was a monumental climax following nearly 14 years of numerous litigations and lobbying to save the Plateau,” he said.
Despite the win, expenses amounted to around $35,000 to cover the costs of a Senior Barrister, expert Anthropologist, and paralegal and related disbursements. The North Lismore Plateau Protection Association is desperate to recoup some of these expenses as the fight to fully protect the Plateau is still far from finished.
Fund raising through Chuffed.org is under way. Please consider a donation to show your support. Go to: https://chuffed.org/project/175595-defending-sacred-sites
