05/07/2015

Quarrying in Swan Valley in Western Australia is a threat to a sanctuary of the Nyunga people

HeidelbergCement must respect human rights of Aboriginal Australians

© Flickr/Steve Evans

HeidelbergCement could help the Nyunga-Aboriginals in Western Australia to preserve a sanctuary that is very important for their cultural identity – as was reported by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) on occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the company, which belongs to the world's leading building materials providers. "The natives have been fighting against the expansion of the Red Hill quarry for years. The project, which is carried out by Hanson Construction Materials, a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement, is a serious threat to the sanctuary of the Nyunga because of the blasting operations," reported the STP's expert on questions concerning indigenous communities, Yvonne Bangert, in Göttingen on Tuesday. "The Nyunga are pleading that their sanctuary and the land of their ancestors at the Red Hill will not fall victim to the quarrying of construction materials for road construction. The STP had already sent an according appeal to the company management in 2009, pointing out the corporate principles concerning respect for human rights. However, the Nyunga must still fear for their sacred Owl Stone."

The Aboriginals fear that the blasting operations to expand the quarry will disrupt the bedrock and cause the sanctuary to collapse. The shape of the stone formation resembles a sitting owl. For the Aboriginals, the 20-meter-high figure represents a physical connection to the world of dreams and is a fundamental part of their mythology. For the natives, it is about as important as a cathedral building would be for Christian believers.

Following a first wave of protests, the area of Swan Valley's Nyunga tribe had been added to the list of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in order to protect it – but it was taken from the list again on January 31, 2015. "In any case, the quarry could also be extended to the west in order to preserve the Owl Stone," said Bangert. "HeidelbergCement could save the stone sanctuary and make a clear statement concerning the problematic political situation of the indigenous peoples of Western Australia." There, the Aboriginals are coerced to abandon their settlements by cutting off their water supplies, their power lines and access to infrastructure.


Header Photo: Flickr/Steve Evans