Aboriginal tribes occupying the former Deebing Creek Mission site are looking to establish a tent embassy in a unified stand to protect burial sites from being desecrated by development.
Protesters have occupied the site since 2015 when developers, Frasers Property, lodged plans to develop the southern end of Grampian Drive.
A second camp was set up at the AV Jennings development site on October 2019.
Descendent of Indigenous people at Deebing Creek Mission, Daniel Kinchela, said the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra had presented descendants with ashes from the Sacred Fire for Peace and Justice to establish an embassy at Deebing Creek.
Mr Kinchela said the state government had a long way to go to deal with the cultural issues of the site.
“We need to deal with the massacre site, get it protected and work towards recompense or repatriation so our ancestors and loved ones are returned to their country or so that their mob will be recompensed and there is a chance for the traditional owners to finish their business for the historical stance forced upon them by the colonies,” he said.
“It is unfinished business. There are a lot of unanswered questions and there are a lot of descendants not being informed.”
A 2016 report on a survey of the former mission site, using ground-penetrating radar commissioned by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, found what appeared to be several unmarked burial sites. The Queensland Heritage Register cites as many as 13 unmarked burials.
The State Government declared the Ripley Valley urban development area in 2010, taking over regulatory control of the land, but has delegated development assessment to Ipswich City Council.
Council approved a development application from Frasers Property for 267 housing lots on the former mission site on August 7, 2018.
Frasers’ masterplan for their site proposes a total of 950 new homes and increased space around the mission cemetery and along Deebing Creek. The developer said the masterplan ensured there would be no development of residential properties in the heritage listed area that commemorates the former Deebing Creek Mission site.
AV Jennings’ proposed Deebing Springs development shows plans for 186 housing lots.
The company has said it has been working with the Yuggera and Ugarapul people over the past two years to preserve cultural heritage and has completed a ground penetrating radar survey of the development site.
AV Jennings National Development Manager Angus Johnson said the company had a strong track record of respecting the cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
“AV Jennings has successfully co-operated with traditional owners at other locations in Queensland and other states, including other sites in the Ipswich area, and we have no reason to believe that will not be the case again,” Mr Johnson said.
The former mission site has been listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and the State Government has primary responsibility for regulating native title issues and ensuring development complies with the cultural heritage act.
Ipswich candidates’ views on development of the former Deebing Creek Mission site
“The Greens are opposed to the development plans on the site, and believe the project needs to be pulled pending a thorough independent review. Ipswich has a rich heritage but has not done enough to recognise the First Nations people and their history, particularly the Mission site where so many diverse people were sent. Our colonial history is not complete until these stories are told and the heritage preserved.” — Pat Walsh, Greens
“This is a matter for the Ipswich City Council to consider. It is appropriate that any development also respect cultural history. Consultation by the council, with the community and those impacted, is vital to any development application. Ipswich is already experiencing significant growth. We haven't seen the investment to support this growth. It is critical that when we have job creating development, that we also have the community facilities, roads, bridges and rail to support our city as we grow.” — Scott O’Connell, LNP
“I don’t support the AV Jennings development. This issue is an ongoing matter that residents at Deebing Heights have brought up originally with the Bligh government. We brought up the issue that it is an Aboriginal burial ground and should be protected. I have previously spoken to some of the protesters when they first came. I support building an educational centre there so we can learn about the history and maybe bring all of us closer together.” — Suzie Holmes, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
No response was received from Jennifer Howard ALP or from Shelly Morton, Legalise Cannabis Qld.