Cuttagee Bridge land claims sent to Crown Lands Minister after consultation questions

Bega Valley Shire Council and Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council will jointly ask the Crown Lands Minister to determine land claims relevant to the Cuttagee Bridge project, following questions about consultation and environmental impacts.

The agreement was reached at a meeting attended by the chief executives of Council, Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council and Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council, along with Council staff. Council chief executive Anthony McMahon told councillors the organisations had also maintained communication during the project, including site visits.

The issue was raised by Cr Mitchell Nadin during questions without notice. He referred to reports that Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council had criticised Council’s consultation over Cuttagee Bridge and asked whether it had been kept informed about environmental impacts before a funding deed was signed.

Mr McMahon said Council could not comment on conversations reported in the media. He said Council had been engaging, and attempting to engage, with Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council for some time, but the land-claim issue had been raised only recently.

He said resolving the claim was one possible way forward, but was not necessarily required for the project to progress. Another option, he said, was for Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council to advise NSW Crown Lands and the NSW Local Aboriginal Land Council that it had no objection to the works.

The timing of the joint letter was not specified. Council did not resolve the land claim or approve a new construction timetable.

The discussion leaves the land-claim question to be taken up with Crown Lands while Council and Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council continue to consider how the issue relates to the bridge project. It also puts consultation concerns on the agenda alongside the project’s delivery arrangements.