This post is a summary from the Dharug Strategic Management Group to update Dharug families and community on the activities we have undertaken, the challenges we are facing and our plans going forward for the Blacktown Native Institution site.
With the best will in the world sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the complexities DSMG faces at the BNI. There’s been a lot happening in the last six months!
Best laid plans and some progress
At our celebration of the BNI in 2023, we were looking forward to the installation of a simple steel shed to offer some storage, shelter and work- and meeting-space. We were progressing that Project with site preparation for the slab in August 2024. But …this is actually something of a ‘good news/bad news’ sort of yarn.
The fence was dropped in mid-August, the shed kit was delivered, and our contractor started work to prepare the slab. We were on our way to delivering our modest but long-awaited secure storage shed that was funded by a Local Small Commitments Allocation Grant from the NSW Premier’s Department. But as work for the slab progressed asbestos contamination in the soil stopped work. With assistance from Blacktown Council, temporary fencing was erected to restrict access until the asbestos problem was dealt with.
Until that moment, DSMG was feeling immensely optimistic with our progress. Not only had we secured funds for the shed, but we had also juggled weather and other challenges to also purchase a trailer-mounted double toilet for use in working bees and small events and ceremonies on the site.
We were also progressing our culturally-led ecological restoration project in collaboration with work team from Muru Mittigar and students from TAFE NSW with funding from Microsoft and support from the Society for Ecological Restoration.
And we had also just been notified that DSMG’s Expression of Interest to expend the Blacktown Bicentennial Legacy Fund on healing and truth-telling activities at the BNI was successful!
The Blacktown Bicentennial Legacy funds have now been secured and there will be a program of activities and consultation rolling out with that support over 2025-2026 to progress the community vision for the BNI. We are excited that this will kickstart our efforts to raise the substantial funds required to deliver that vision and thank Blacktown City Council for responding to the detailed proposal put forward on behalf of the BNI and the Dharug Community by our DSMG team.
Disappointments and Complications
The shed kit was stolen: While we waited for the shed kit to be moved behind the security fence our contractor had a heart attack and while he was recovering all the metal from the shed kit was stolen. Police reports were submitted but there is little chance of recovery or action. We have no choice but to utilise some of the Blacktown Bicentennial Legacy funds to cover the costs of replacing the shed, adding security fencing, and remediating the asbestos problem.
Asbestos remediation was delayed: To add complexity to our tasks, further discussion with Heritage NSW raised concerns about the proposed shed and remedial work. After further discussions this has been clarified and DSMG could commence remedial work under standard heritage exemptions with appropriate documentation. Once that work is complete we will submit a s60 application for approval to erect the shed and hopefully be back to where we had hoped to be late last year by August or so this year (2025).
The theft was deeply disappointing and we felt that we had been kicked back to square one on the shed and facing new challenges at every turn. But we also realise that this precious Nura came back to community severely damaged and traumatised by its long history of neglect and abuse. Asbestos contamination is part of that story which needs healing.
The Richmond Road Upgrade’s impacts on the BNI demand a lot of attention: Further complicating our dance towards truth and healing at the BNI is the impact of the Richmond Road Upgrade Project. As many of you know, that project will widen Richmond Road by extending the roadway into the area along the BNI boundary.
It will create a new bridge across Bells Creek (currently with little or no attention to wildlife protection), widening the road into state heritage protected areas, and constructing a flyover connecting the northbound M7 to a high-speed merge lane joining centre of the Richmond Road northbound just before Bells Creek.
The current design will not only remove our current access to the BNI off Richmond Road but will also create significant environmental, safety, visual and access issues for people and wildlife at the BNI. With strong support from Blacktown City Council, DSMG has sought to work with Transport for NSW(TfNSW) towards co-design solutions that will enhance community safety, secure long-term accessibility and minimise damage to the BNI.
DSMG actively sought ministerial meetings to ensure that the TfNSW Project Team adheres to their own principles and guidelines that require attention to cultural protocols heritage values. We also proposed a range of collaborative solutions, in online and on-site meetings to alert the project team of our deep concerns. However, it has been a difficult and bruising task. We will provide a copy of our submission on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) in a separate post.
We will keep community informed through the webpage (dsmg.org.au) and will welcome your participation in working bees, ceremony and other activities when it is safe to do so.
With love, respect and ongoing determination, DSMG Board.
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