Land council slams Sandon Point Embassy plan

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Glen Humphries Illawarra Mercury 26 November 2012

Wollongong City Council's draft plan of management for Sandon Point is "an affront" to Aboriginal people, the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council says.

ILALC CEO Sharralyn Robinson is about to take part in a press conference on the council's proposals for the site, and has slammed the plans.

"In its current form, what is proposed in the draft plan of management is an affront to Aboriginal people the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy and the land council," Mrs Robinson said.

The plan includes four options for the site. The first would allow for daily use of the site from "sun up to sun down" for "Aboriginal cultural and heritage activities", but restrict overnight stays to a maximum of 42 nights a year and only six individuals or families at a time.

Option two allows for a community centre to be built on the site but camping would be restricted as per option one.

Option three includes a manager's residence and allows year-round camping for indigenous people.

The fourth option is for an education centre, a caretaker's residence and either temporary or all-year camping.

Mrs Robinson called on Wollongong City Council to withdraw the plan, which is due to be discussed at tonight's meeting.

"The four options for the embassy were never part of the community consultation process," she said.

"We are not here to negotiate or make a deal to accept one of the four options presented for the future 'mission management' of the embassy."

Mrs Robinson said the council "had no legal right or jurisdiction over the embassy as it is governed by constitutional and international laws".

She said all legal means would be used to stop the plan "if it requires the removal and/or control of embassy structures, activities or land".