Outrage over remedial work at glyphs site

Coast Environmental Alliance (CEA) has accused the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of carrying out “unnecessary” and “extreme” remedial works at the site of the Kariong hieroglyphics.

Many residents have taken to social media, outraged at the “decimation” of the renowned landmark.

CEA spokesperson Jake Cassar said the NPWS had begun to remove what it considered to be dangerous boulders above the controversial Egyptian-style hieroglyphs – an area frequented by many locals and tourists.

“Our group was aware that there was a particular area that NPWS had deemed unsafe, but it looks like they’ve literally taken out tonnes of sandstone, and from areas where there was no risk of the rocks budging in the slightest,” he said.

“This seems like an incredibly extreme move by the State Government and frankly quite perplexing.

“We would be really interested to find out how much this has cost the Australian public and why they’ve removed so much sandstone.

“It’s fair enough to secure the areas they believed posed a public risk, but to level the entire area above the heiroglyphs has really changed the face of this very popular destination.

“Many people in our community and beyond are very distressed about the situation at Kariong, with some seeing it as an intentional attack on the area.”

Cassar said with a major housing development proposed for a site nearby, the group would like a guarantee from the State Government that no attempt will be made to destroy the hieroglyphics.

An application for a rezoning to accommodate Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council’s 50-home housing project at 300 Woy Woy Rd, not far from the glyphs site, is now on public exhibition.

Kariong Progress Association spokesperson Geoff Mitchell said there had been an uproar among those people who have knowledge of and visit the hieroglyphics.

“At first glance it would appear they were being destroyed or at least being damaged,” he said.

Mitchell said there was “enormous sensitivity” around the entire area at the moment due to the rezoning application.

“I have been walking to the Kariong glyphs now for the past 23 years,” he said.

“In that time there has been no movement in the rock formations around it and there has been nothing that I would have called dangerous about the site.”

He said residents had been greatly upset, with no prior notification of the proposed works from the NPWS.

“All the reaction could have been avoided if there had been some community consultation beforehand; not much, just a phone call would have saved a great deal of angst,” he said.

“Parks exist for the benefit of the community and yet this action by the NPWS shows a degree of arrogance which is not appreciated.

“Let’s hope they can do better in the future.”

An NPWS spokesperson said the “glyphs” site is within a larger significant Aboriginal site called the Kariong Sacred Land Aboriginal Place.

“People visit the site, even though NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service does not promote it,” the spokesperson said.

“After commissioning a geotechnical assessment of the site, it was identified there was unacceptable risk of a rockfall, and that works were required to address this.

“NPWS undertook a range of environmental and cultural assessments before works started on December 11.

“Mitigation measures were included to protect the ‘glyphs’, using onsite techniques recommended by a specialist with expertise in rock hazard treatment.

“Registered Aboriginal parties were consulted on preferred works with a preference to remove boulders.

“Despite clear safety signs and barricades around the site, some people have continued to visit.

“It is now a construction site and unauthorised access is an offence – fines apply.”

Terry Collins