2020-02-07
Canberrans were outraged to learn this week that the development proposed at the old CSIRO site, on the foothills of Mount Ainslie, could have gone ahead without proper assessment of its Indigenous heritage - despite Indigenous calls to protect the site’s cultural values.
Earlier this week the ACT Greens proudly joined with a First Nations representative, local residents and concerned Canberrans to urge the Federal Government to do the right thing - to act now to protect Indigenous heritage on the site, before it’s too late.
With your support, we’ve made it happen.
We’re pleased that after raising this issue publicly, after only a matter of days, today the Federal Government has announced they will assess the DOMA site for its Indigenous heritage value before proposed apartments are approved for the site.
This is a win for Canberrans who, like the Greens, care about protecting our heritage and culture. Who care about First Nations knowledge and history - and who want community voices to be heard in our planning systems.
We couldn’t have done this without your support. At a time when Canberra (and the world!) is in desperate need of some good news, we Greens are proud to deliver for Canberra, standing up for the issues that matter in our community.
Thank you for sharing this good news today with your friend and family, your neighbours, and across social media.
In the meantime, the Greens have also written to the ACT Government, calling for urgent measures to ensure that the adjacent native grasslands - home to local endangered species - are immediately protected. We’ll keep up the fight on this issue, too.
Together, we’re Building a Better Normal, in the city that we love. A climate-ready city, a sustainable and fairer city - a city for all of us.
Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens Leader
Member for Kurrajong
Rebecca Vassarotti
ACT Greens candidate for Kurrajong
ACT Greens Heritage Spokesperson