Fears of Indigenous site desecration spark anti-mining protest at Chinese consulate

A protest has been held at the Chinese Consulate-General's office in Sydney calling for a NSW mining project, which threatens to destroy sacred Indigenous sites, to be scrapped.

protest against Shenhua

The protest against Shenhua Group in Sydney. Source: SBS Mandarin/Edgar Lu

Activist group Anticolonial Asian Alliance led the protest which called on the NSW government to drop its support for the Shenhua Watermark coalmine project, earmarked for the Liverpool Plains region of NSW. 

Locals say that the development, which is being spearheaded by the Chinese state-owned mining company Shenhua Group, would threaten several sacred Gomeroi sites, including cultural items, burial grounds and sites of "colonial massacres". 

Gamilaraay man and Native Title applicant for the Gomeroi people, Raymond Weatherall, said that legislative changes by the NSW planning department have effectively denied the Gomeroi their voice.
protest against Shenhua
The protest against Shenhua Group in Sydney. Source: SBS Mandarin/Edgar Lu
He was one of almost 200 people who have applied to the federal government through Aboriginal Heritage Protection laws.

“The NSW government are very well aware of our ATSIHP application and protracted battle to protect and defend our sacred places yet these appear to be deliberately ignored,” he said.

“Legislation and processes [are] developed which in effect sidestep or excuse the government from taking protection action.”

A spokesperson from the Asian Alliance said a key aim of the protests was to send a message of solidarity to the NSW and Chinese governments. 

“Gomeroi mob have been fighting to reclaim stolen lands for over 200 years. As Asian settlers, we need to recognise whose land we’re on, and who’s profiting the most off this."

The project is located 25km south-east of the town of Gunnedah and has drawn controversy because of the location in a primarily agricultural region.

valued at A$1 billion, the project, once operational, was expected to extract 10 million tonnes of coal per year and have a 30-year live span.
protest against Shenhua
The protest against Shenhua Group in Sydney. Source: SBS Mandarin/Edgar Lu
protest against Shenhua
The protest against Shenhua Group in Sydney. Source: SBS Mandarin/Edgar Lu
protest against Shenhua
The protest against Shenhua Group in Sydney. Source: SBS Mandarin/Edgar Lu

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By Edgar Lu

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Fears of Indigenous site desecration spark anti-mining protest at Chinese consulate | SBS Chinese