Lead

A renewable energy company has apologised after its workers destroyed an Aboriginal rock shelter in central-west New South Wales, an act the local Wiradjuri community has called "inexcusable" and which has prompted investigations by both the company and the state government.

ACEREZ, which is building transmission lines for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), confirmed that the shelter in the Mudgee district was "damaged beyond recovery" while workers were cutting an access track on private property. The company's chief executive, Steve Masters, said the required processes to protect the shelter were not followed and apologised "without reservation" to the First Nations community.

Coverage comparison

The story has been covered by ABC Australia and The Guardian, with both outlets focusing on the community's reaction and the company's admission of responsibility. ABC reported that the company knew about the shelter before its destruction and that a cultural management plan was in place, while The Guardian added that the site was destroyed by bulldozers in March and that the damage was discovered in May during due diligence checks. Both outlets quoted Thomas Dahlstrom, a Wiradjuri, Tubba-Gah and Gamilaraay man who worked on the REZ site, describing his shock and anger at the loss.

Key claims

  • ACEREZ destroyed an Indigenous rock shelter in the Mudgee district while building power lines for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • The shelter was described in project records as a 4x2 metre rock shelter with potential archaeological deposits, a detail carried by The Guardian.
  • A cultural management plan was in place to protect the site, but the company failed to follow it, as reported by both ABC and The Guardian.
  • The company knew about the shelter before its destruction, according to ABC and The Guardian.
  • ACEREZ has apologised for the incident, with its CEO stating the company was "deeply sorry" and that "nothing we say can undo that."
  • The NSW government is investigating the incident, as reported by both ABC and The Guardian.
  • Indigenous community members, including Thomas Dahlstrom, are calling for accountability and stronger heritage laws, and have expressed a desire for harsh penalties to be applied.
  • The company paused work on access tracks after the destruction and launched its own investigation, as reported by ABC and The Guardian.

Perspectives

The Wiradjuri community, represented by Thomas Dahlstrom, expressed devastation and anger, saying that the company knew about the shelter and had promised it would not be harmed. Dahlstrom described the shelter as likely a refuge for women and children, and said the destruction was "one of the hardest parts to digest" because "when you know better, there's absolutely no excuse." He also said a statement of regret was not enough and that he hoped harsh penalties would be considered.

ACEREZ, through its CEO Steve Masters, acknowledged the permanent loss of the shelter and apologised "without reservation." Masters said the company had contacted traditional owners directly and would work with them to determine how the site and its story could be acknowledged and honoured. The company said it had paused work on access tracks and was cooperating with investigations.

Penny Sharpe, the NSW minister for climate change, energy, heritage and the environment, said she was "furious" about the damage, calling it "completely unacceptable." She confirmed that investigations by the company and the state government were under way into how and why the shelter was destroyed, despite it being identified in the project's approval conditions and heritage management plan.