Telecom halts work at old brewery site

Telecom halts work at old brewery site

By Anthony Benbow

PERTH — Telecom has halted cable-laying at the old Swan Brewery site. The brewery, built on Aboriginal religious ground in the 1890s and virtually given to Multiplex Constructions as part of WA Inc, is being developed as a tavern and restaurant complex, largely against the wishes of the people of WA and in the face of ongoing protest by Aboriginal and community groups.

The development company, Bluegate Nominees, is proceeding with work despite the fact that some development approvals are still not finalised. The liquor licences for the proposed venues are at present the subject of court action.

Bluegate is trying to complete as much work as possible before the court action is concluded because a favourable result for it is more likely if development is "too far advanced".

Last month, protesters Telecom workers digging near the Kennedy Fountain, across the road from the brewery site, on grounds of religious significance.

Subsequent checking revealed that no approval had been granted by the registrar of Aboriginal sites for that excavation or two proposed ones in the same area. The registrar ordered Telecom to cease work immediately and to make the excavation safe.

At a meeting on the site on April 19, representatives from Telecom met with Nyungah custodians and formally apologised for the disturbance.

Telecom has given an undertaking to stop all work until the court proceedings have been finalised.

From GLW issue 140