Witton Bluff Base Trail and Tutu Wirra Reserve Works

Are you a Traditional Owner or Aboriginal party with an interest in the southern Adelaide region?

What's being decided?

We want to hear from you about a proposal from the City of Onkaparinga regarding its Witton Bluff Base Trail, and the installation of fitness equipment in the Tutu Wirra Reserve.

Your views will help the Premier decide whether to authorise potential excavation, damage, disturbance or interference with Aboriginal heritage that may occur as a result of this proposal.

The proposed activities involve:

• upgrading an existing path
• modifying sections of an existing seawall including excavation and removal of sand and importation of rocks
• constructing a new elevated platform suitable for wheelchair access, walking and cycling
• installing footings, including into a limestone shelf
• installing fencing, viewing areas, pedestrian/cyclist access connections to adjoining shared paths, signage, public art, trail lighting and furniture and gates
• landscaping and revegetation
• installing fitness equipment in the northern section of the Tutu Wirra Reserve.

Background

The Premier of South Australia, who is responsible for the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) (Act), has received an application for authorisations under sections 21 and 23 of the Act from the City of Onkaparinga (Applicant).

The Applicant has sought the authorisations in relation to its proposed Witton Bluff Base Trail west of The Esplanade between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga, and the installation of fitness equipment at the Tutu Wirra Reserve in Port Noarlunga. A map of the Application Areas is available here.

Section 21 of the Act makes it an offence to excavate land to uncover any Aboriginal site, object or remains (Aboriginal heritage) without the Premier’s authorisation, while section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to damage, disturb or interfere with Aboriginal heritage without the Premier’s authorisation..

Prior to considering whether to grant the authorisations, section 13 of the Act requires the Premier to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (Committee), and other Aboriginal parties that he thinks may have an interest in the matter.

Get involved

If you are a Traditional Owner or an Aboriginal party with an interest in the Application Areas, please read the Consultation Information Pack and consider the following 3 questions:

1. Should the authorisations be granted to the Applicant? Why or why not?
2. If granted, what conditions (if any) should be imposed on them?
3. Are there any other matters that the Premier should consider in this application?

Have your say by:

• calling us on (08) 8226 8900
• emailing your feedback to DPC-AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
• posting your feedback to:
  Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
  GPO Box 2343
  ADELAIDE SA 5001

See the Consultation Information Pack for further details on how to lodge a verbal or written submission.

What are the next steps?

Unless otherwise requested, consultees submissions will be forwarded to the Applicant for comment. Once the public consultation period has closed, submissions and the Applicant’s comments about them will be forwarded to the Committee. The Committee’s own views about the application will then be sought. AAR will collate consultee submissions, the Applicant’s responses to them, the Committee’s advice, and its own recommendations to the Premier within a single brief to assist him to make a final decision about the application.