An Aboriginal Ceremony and Dreaming site known as Whale Rock is to be protected under a development proposal for a steel fabrication plant at 7 Ainslie Cl, Somersby.
The building would have overall dimensions of 30m X 12m and a maximum height of 8.06m with a mezzanine level in the front northeast corner of the building above a small office area.
Access to the building would primarily be via three roller doors facing the car parking area.
Earthworks, retaining walls and some tree removals are also proposed as part of the application.
The property is located at the western end of Ainslie Cl, approximately 100m from its intersection with Debenham Rd North at Somersby.
The land is currently vacant.
A previous development application for a factory building and associated works at the site was refused by the former Gosford Council in March 2011 primarily due to its potential impact on Whale Rock and other sites, with those concerns having been addressed in the current application.
Documents provided with the Development Application (DA) say the project would: allow for the establishment of an employment generating industry on the site; produce no adverse effects on any other land uses; and facilitate the use of the site for local manufacturing.
An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report accompanying the DA was prepared by Heritage Now, after a site survey was completed on April 20 by Sarah Mané from Heritage Now and Jacob Cain from Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Aside from Whale Rock, no additional sites were identified in the project area.
The report says the site is of cultural and archaeological significance on a local level, with high education potential in demonstrating the cultural beliefs and practices of Aboriginal people in the local area.
The report gives several recommendations, including that Whale Rock be fenced off during construction , with vegetation surrounding it to be retained to maintain a visual and physical buffer between the site and the industrial development.
All on-site personnel are to be made aware of their obligations under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 regarding protection of Aboriginal sites and the reporting of any new Aboriginal, or suspected Aboriginal, heritage sites.
“In the unlikely event that Aboriginal or suspected Aboriginal archaeological material is uncovered during the development, then works in that area are to stop and the area is to be cordoned off,” the report says.
“The project manager is to contact the heritage consultant to make an assessment as to whether the material is classed as Aboriginal object/s under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and advise on the required management and mitigation measures.
“Works are not to recommence in the cordoned off area until heritage clearance has been given and/or the required management and mitigation measures have been implemented.”
The report also outlines that in the unlikely event that human remains, or suspected human remains, are uncovered during the development, works are to be stopped and the police contacted, along with Heritage NSW.
The proposal is open for public comment with written submissions to close on November 25.
It can be found on Council’s DA tracker.
Source:
Central Coast Council DA tracker
DA3057/2022