Consultation Process
Now Closed
This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 22 February to 19 March 2021. Below is a record of the engagement.
Tell us what you think about Berri Barmera Council’s proposal to install tourism infrastructure on or near to the foreshore of Lake Bonney in Barmera.
What’s being decided?
Berri Barmera Council is seeking authorisations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) to enable the installation of low-impact tourism infrastructure on or near to the foreshore of Lake Bonney in Barmera, South Australia.
These works are part of Berri Barmera Council’s Lake Bonney Nature and Cultural Tourism Project (Project).
The application area for the Project includes 8 areas on or near to Lake Bonney’s foreshore:
- 7 camping/day areas.
- An area around most of the lake’s perimeter designated for a multiuse trail.
The Project will involve:
- formalising and upgrading vehicle access tracks, a multiuse trail, campgrounds, car parking and caravan layover areas
- closing unauthorised tracks
- installing amenities including fire pits and shelter structures with concrete bases, BBQs and picnic tables
- installing signage
- revegetation
- screen planting
- placing rocks and timber logs
Bins and a composting-waterless toilet may also be installed as part of the Project, subject to funding and approval.
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (AAR), on behalf of the Premier of South Australia, is seeking views from Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal parties with an interest in the application area, on whether the authorisations should be granted.
Undertaking the Project poses the risk of potentially damaging, disturbing or interfering with Aboriginal heritage, so your views are important for the Premier to make a decision.
Get involved
If you are a Traditional Owner or an Aboriginal party with an interest in the application area, read the Consultation Information Package and consider the following questions:
- Should the authorisations be granted to Berri Barmera Council? Why or why not?
- If the authorisations are granted, what conditions, if any, should be imposed on them?
- Are there any other matters that the Premier should be aware of when considering the application?
Have your say by:
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
GPO Box 2343, ADELAIDE SA 5001
In line with social distancing considerations, AAR won't hold public meetings for this consultation.
AAR will aim to contact Aboriginal parties with a known interest in the application area before the consultation period closes. If you are not contacted, and wish to learn more and/or lodge a submission, you can do so by using one of the above options.
Your feedback will be treated confidentially. Unless specified otherwise, submissions will be provided to Berri Barmera Council and presented to the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (Committee) and the Premier for consideration.
How can your input influence the decision?
Your input will inform the Committee's advice to the Premier on whether the authorisations should be granted.
What are the next steps?
Once the consultation period closes, feedback will be forwarded to the Committee for its review and recommendations.
AAR will collate your and the Committee's feedback and provide these to the Premier in a report to assist him make his decision.
Contact details
If you would like to learn more about the proposal and/or wish to lodge a submission:
- call AAR on (08) 8226 8900 during business hours (9 am to 5 pm)
- write to/ email:
Mr Peter Kapiris
Senior Project Officer (Heritage)
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
GPO Box 2343
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Email: DPC-AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
Closing date: 11:55 pm, Friday 19 March 2021
Background
Now Closed
This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 22 February to 19 March 2021. Find out more about the consultation process. Below is a record of the engagement.
The Premier of South Australia, responsible for the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) (Act), has received an application, under section 21 and section 23 of the Act, from Berri Barmera Council to support its Lake Bonney Nature and Cultural Tourism Project (Project).
Lake Bonney is one of South Australia’s largest permanent freshwater lakes, located in Barmera, approximately 220 km north-east of Adelaide.
The lake and its surrounds are used for a variety of tourism activities and regular events, including:
- camping
- off-road biking and driving
- picnicking
- horse riding
- jet skiing
- walking
- cycling.
The lake is also used for water-based activities such as:
- swimming
- sailing
- skiing
- fishing
- kayaking
- canoeing
- boating
- rowing.
Lake Bonney and its surrounds hold cultural significance to the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee Region and contain a high density of Aboriginal archaeological sites, particularly on or near to the lake foreshore.
Section 21 of the Act makes it an offence to excavate land to uncover Aboriginal sites, objects and/or remains (Aboriginal heritage) without authorisations. Section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to damage, disturb or interfere with Aboriginal heritage without authorisations.
The central archives, which include the Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects, are maintained by Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (AAR) on behalf of the Premier. The central archives contain records for 29 Aboriginal sites within the application area, some of which contain Aboriginal ancestral remains.
Berri Barmera Council advises that very minimal ground disturbance will occur as a result of the Project and, it does not anticipate any disturbance or adverse impact to any Aboriginal heritage as part of the Project works.
Berri Barmera Council further advises that it has designed the Project in such a way that it limits the risk that Aboriginal heritage will be encountered and/or disturbed.
In order to manage Aboriginal heritage during the Project, Berri Barmera Council has considered and adopted a number of cultural heritage management measures, including the implementation of a cultural heritage management plan.
Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal parties with an interest in the application area may contact AAR for further information about the nature of these sites (i.e. site type). Contact information is available on the about page.
If you are a Traditional Owner or an Aboriginal party with an interest in the application area, read the Consultation Information Package and get involved.
