Town of Port Hedland fined $8000 for damaging sacred Aboriginal site

The Town of Port Hedland has been fined $8000 and forced to apologise after illegally damaging a sacred Aboriginal site in Port Hedland’s Pretty Pool. In September 2021, contractors employed by the Town entered the site to complete works in preparation for the construction of a footbridge and boardwalk. Vehicles and machinery were taken to the site, which features ancient footprints believed to be 25,000 years old, and a drilling rig was used to drill a core hole approximately 15 metres deep. The Town had not received approval to start works from the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites or Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti. It was also charged with bringing machinery and vehicles onto Crown land without the approval of the relevant minister or registrar. The Town of Port Hedland was fined $7020 by the South Hedland Magistrates Court and ordered to pay $788 in court costs. Speaking to ABC Pilbara, Kariyarra elder Pat Mason, who is the site’s registered knowledge holder, called the Town’s actions “disgusting” and said she was not consulted prior to the works commencing. Ms Mason said the ancient human footprints were not destroyed during the incident, but the registered Aboriginal heritage site was damaged. Despite Ms Mason’s comments, a statement issued by the Town of Port Hedland said the Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation and Marapikurrinya elder were consulted before drilling started. “The Town of Port Hedland wishes to publicly reinforce its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act,” the statement said. “The Town has publicly acknowledged it mistakenly contravened the Act when undertaking work at an Aboriginal heritage site at Pretty Pool, Port Hedland, in September 2021. For this, we deeply apologise. “The Town now realises it should also have sought authorisation of the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites or consent of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. “The Town accepts the decision of the court. As a result of this process, the Town has a much deeper understanding of its legal obligations and is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act. Ms Mason told the ABC she did not feel the council’s fine was large enough.