Community shocked after Aboriginal rock shelter bulldozed for NSW power lines

Indigenous community members have described their shock and anger after an Aboriginal rock shelter was “damaged beyond recovery” by contractors building transmission lines for a New South Wales renewable energy zone. The heritage site was destroyed by bulldozers in March during the construction of access tracks for the Central-West Orana renewable energy zone, a transmission line project located about 300km north-west of Sydney. The network company Acerez, engaged by the state government to design, build and operate the infrastructure project, discovered the damage in May while undertaking due diligence checks. A company spokesperson said processes to protect the shelter “were not fully implemented”. “We are deeply sorry and apologise without reservation to the traditional owners and to the local community,” they said. Public records for the site described it as a 4x2 metre rock shelter that could have provided “protection from rain, slope wash and westerly winds”, and potentially contained archaeological deposits. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Thomas Dahlstrom, a Wiradjuri, Tubba-Gah and Gamilaraay man, said he had experienced a “rollercoaster of emotions” on learning the shelter had been destroyed. “I was shocked. I was angry,” he said, and now coming to the realisation that “it’s gone and it’s not coming back”. He said a statement of regret was not enough for people to learn a lesson, and hoped that harsh penalties would be considered and applied. …