Hindmarsh bridge halted
By Anthony Thirlwall
and Col Smith
ADELAIDE — The federal government has ordered a temporary halt to work on the controversial Hindmarsh Island Bridge.
On May 12, Aboriginal affairs minister Robert Tickner made an emergency declaration under the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Protection Act (1984) that will ban work on the site for 30 days.
The intervention follows a campaign in opposition to the construction of the bridge, resulting in five arrests at the site on May 11, and another on May 12.
On May 4 the state Liberal government had announced that the bridge would be built even though it would damage an Aboriginal burial ground and other sacred sites. Construction was due to start again on May 11.
The state Aboriginal affairs minister had used special powers under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1988) to authorise the "disturbance" of these sites during construction. This decision had outraged local Aboriginal groups.
The site ,is on the land of the Ngarrindjeri for whom the entire Coorong region, Hindmarsh Island in particular, is an integral part of the Dreaming.
Sarah Milera, a direct descendant of the leader of the Ngarrindjeri nation, believes that a decision to scrap the bridge project would provide a clear signal to the rest of Australia that reconciliation can work. So far, however, her people have not even been consulted.
The Marina Goolwa was built on sacred sites, including a burial ground. Aboriginal remains have also been disturbed by Electricity Trust crews during routine excavation work on the island.
On May 1 at a picnic held near the site about 75 supporters of the struggle met to celebrate May Day. Representatives of many other groups pledged their support for the campaign.