The following article is republished and amended with permission from the author, Adele Carrall, children’s rights advocate, researcher and writer. An additional version of this article can be found at Perth Indymedia.
International Criminal Court Material
The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is causing devastation almost all the way along the so-called ‘upgrade’ of the Pacific Highway, NSW.
At Bulahdelah, in addition to the unique Aboriginal cultural heritage of and on Boolah Dillah – the Great Rock (‘the Alum Mountain’) there is ‘non-Aboriginal’ cultural heritage recorded in RTA documentation as being of National heritage value.
The RTA is despotically determined to utilise this historic mountain for a new section of highway despite the existence of alternatives.
The Alum Mountain’s abundant wildlife includes rare, supposedly ‘protected’ species such as: Rhizanthella slateri (the Eastern Underground orchid – which flowers underneath the surface of the soil); Cryptostylis hunteriana (the Leafless Tongue Orchid); a rare Corybas (a tiny helmet orchid which should have been named Corybas ruppii but has been misnamed ‘dowlingii’ after the RTA’s orchid hunter – Bill Dowling); Squirrel Gliders; Microbats; the Powerful Owl; and more.
The mountain, the largest outcrop of alum stone (alunite) in the Southern Hemisphere, is also an eco-tourism area and the beautiful Mountain Park and walking trails the RTA intends to destroy are used by both tourists and local residents.
During the YEARS of construction, which would include blasting 200,000 cubic metres of rock out of this iconic mountain, lives in Bulahdelah would be exposed to volcanic rock dust which is over 50% toxic (Silica 18.10% and [*]Sulphuric Acid 32.30%). They would also be endangered by windblown acid-sulphate soils which can kill marine life. It has now been proven not only that but also HOW diesel fumes cause cancer. Lives would additionally be exposed to the fumes of some five million litres of diesel fuel used by construction vehicles and put at risk from landslide and other ‘slope failure’ hazards.
RTA documentation (the Environmental Impact Statement) shows that, with this route, road users’ lives would also be put at risk – from landslides and rockfall hazards PLUS CRASHES DUE TO LACK OF CLIMBING LANES for slow-moving vehicles.
The RTA’s entire processing of their Bulahdelah scheme has been fraudulent. Documents which prove this are being uploaded to the internet by concerned citizens.
The RTA is committing crimes against humanity. Intellectuals who have researched the RTA’s history and intent with their Bulahdelah project for over nine years, believe that it is the product of a criminally insane mind followed by/combined with corruption plus ‘groupthink’/laziness/fear of ‘jobloss’.
(27-12-2009)
[*] The author of the above has requested that the following be noted: ‘The above silica and sulphuric acid percentages are from a circa 1900 assay. In that era, the terms sulphuric acid and sulphuric anhydride were used synonymously. Today, this component of the Alum Mountain’s historically assayed rock is known as sulphur trioxide. Die.net provides the following data [emphasis added]:-
Sulphur trioxide (Chem.), a white crystalline solid, SO3, obtained by oxidation of sulphur dioxide. It dissolves in water with a hissing noise and the production of heat, forming sulphuric acid, and is employed as a dehydrating agent. Called also sulphuric anhydride, and formerly sulphuric acid.
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In Bulahdelah, as is also the case in Tasmania, police have been used to stop Aboriginal people from saving their heritage from destruction.
For months, taxpayers’ monies have been spent on hiring security guards from SNP Security, 11-13 Rodmay Street, Forster (telephone: 61 2 6555 3411) to bar access to traditional and Sacred cultural areas on the Alum Mountain, thereby violating human rights enshrined in UN declarations ratified by Australia.
On Wednesday, 23rd December, 2009, while the Sacred Guardian- Healing-Tree was being massacred, and an SNP security guard sat smirking at the scene, an already anguished elderly Aboriginal man was verbally assaulted and mocked by a gang of police.
A gifted artist whose famous, intensely spiritual carving of the Red Ash at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Raymond Terrace, was inspired by the Guardian- Healing-Tree, the Aboriginal man, Worimi, was sworn at, ridiculed and defamed by public servants paid to uphold the law.
Worimi’s Red Ash carving was officially launched by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, on Thursday, 18th October, 2007. The Governor of this state has met with Worimi and admired his work.
Her Excellency’s address is:
Office of the Governor of NSW,
Level 3, Chief Secretary’s Building,
121 Macquarie Street,
SYDNEY, NSW 2000.
Contact information for Professor S. James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people:-
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is serviced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
OHCHR, United Nation
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Tel. + 41 – 22 917 96 47 fax + 41 – 22 917 60 10
Email: indigenous@ohchr.org
Later in the afternoon of the 23rd December, reports from witnesses of the brutally corrupt police behaviours were posted at two internet groups. The following morning it was found that relevant messages had been deleted. Some were re-posted and have been copied and saved by group members. They are now all around the world.
The following ‘print screen’ images are of messages posted at the Save the Alum Sacred Mountain, Bulahdelah and the About the Bulahdelah Bypass – the Facts! Facebook groups.
3.36 p.m. [Wednesday] 23rd December, 2009.
Police attending the RTA’s destruction of the Sacred Guardian- Healing-Tree have been verbally abusing Worimi and his supporters with racial abuse, other vilification and defamation. One also said to Worimi, “How much Aboriginal have you got in you?” Another cop replied, “Not much I’ll bet.”
Thursday, 24th December, 2009.
Deleting our Posts RTA will not make this go away.
Thursday, 24th December, 2009.
I was with Worimi yesterday while they were destroying the Guardian-Healing Tree. Worimi was constantly mocked by the Forster and Taree Police who were present. Worimi was holding an 80 year old carved stick in his hand, he was asked by one of the cops what it was, Worimi replied that “this stick is 80 years old”, the cop laughed and said “that’s not 80 years old, you just burnt the etchings with a soldering iron” the same cop who was short with short blonde [sic] hair later went into the bush and picked up a gum tree stick, broke it and said “I wonder if this is 80 years old”.
Worimi was also using his clap sticks, the same cop was mocking him by hitting a plastic water bottle with a stick and whistling. One of the cops formerly from the Bulahdelah Area told Worimi to F**K Off and go back to where you came or come from. This is just a small part of what Worimi had to cope with while being at what he described as a Funeral for his Guardian-Healing-Tree.
Racist NSW Police officers. The racist actions by the one with the plastic bottle are described above.
Thursday, 24th December, 2009.
Shouting: PLEASE SAVE THIS – a print screen generated image will paste into Word – AND SEND TO FRIENDS OVERSEAS FOR SAFEKEEPING.
This is part of one of my now deleted messages re. yesterday’s police corruption:-
From first-hand reports from other witnesses:-
There were about five cops. *All* were harassing and taunting Worimi and *all* were aggressive towards Worimi’s supporters. One [of the cops] was whistling inanely.
A cop from Forster by the name of Brad Barry (who grew up in the Bulahdelah area) said to Worimi, “F**k off and go back to where you came from.”
At one stage one of the cops (I don’t know which one YET) turned to one of the other ones and said, “He’s a strange c**t. *All of this in front of witnesses!*…
The following provides a concise outline by two contributors of just some of the horrific events which have occurred at Bulahdelah during the past nine months.
(27-12-2009)
The statements in the above image:-
December 24, 2009
This came from NEMO, Nimbin enviro media office:-
Tree cut down and left in pieces, dumped at the Bulah RTA yards… Worimi abused, racial slurs from police and workers, abuse most personal thrown at the supporters, all unnecessary and the offenders should be charged with offensive behaviour. RTA must be held accountable – bad enough already with the desecration of Sacred sites, let alone this type of behaviour towards and Elder. Shame RTA.
This is from Adele Carrall:-
Attempted murders and bashings at the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy on 28th March [2009]; police ‘siding with’ the attempted murderers and other thugs; Worimi’s having to have heart surgery as a result of the heart attack caused by the thugs; a local tradesperson assaulting a young lady camping at the tent embassy (1st August [2009]); same tradesperson going to home of supporters and bellowing abuse and making threats at their front doorway; supporters of Worimi and their property (fence) being attacked on 20thSeptember [2009 – additional information: Podcasts/Transcripts of Interviews page of this site] (the same supporters also had their property attacked on the night of and prior to the attempted murders); one of the supporters taken to hospital by ambulance; all of this and other assaults reported to police – and the criminals, including the police who ‘sided with’ the attempted murderers and other thugs, still at large.
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… the way they came in and just knocked that tree down and cut it down, and you had the police there taunting, racially taunting the elder, calling him ‘half-caste’ and all sorts of terrible names.
And this man, he’s at the end of it. He’s been bashed; he’s been pilloried; he’s gone to the courts; he’s been dragged through the courts himself.
He’s done every single thing a person could ask for to protect this heritage site, not only for the Worimi people, but for all Australian people.
Because you can never bring it back, it’s irreconcilable what’s happened.
Al Oshlack, Indigenous Justice Advocacy Centre, speaking on Radio National, Thursday, 24th December, 2009
listen – 24122009|download – 20091224_0741
(9-1-2010)
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Note [inserted 3-4-2010] There is a Statutory Delaration in which it is stated that on the night of 24th March, 2009, (i.e. three nights before the attempted murders at the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy in the early morning hours of Saturday, 28th March, 2009) an Abigroup employee went to said embassy and stated that Abigroup ‘did not know what to do about the people [who were] camping in the park’. [Said Statutory Declaration is in safekeeping in another state. Copies of same are in various locations around the world.] Just over a year later (29-4-2010), in a joint Media Release statement by Anthony Albanese and David Borger, it was announced that the ‘Bulahdelah Bypass’ contract had been awarded to Baulderstone Pty Ltd. Baulderstone and Abigroup are both subsidiaries of the German company Bilfinger Berger. [Further information regarding said media release is at the ALERT! Media Release – 29th April, 2010 page of this website.] Baulderstone’s licence (no. 12993) for said contract had, however, been applied for several months before the attempted murders (and approximately a year prior to the call for tenders [which was made on 14-10-2009].)
[Note added 30-6-2011: In mid-2010 Bilfinger Berger Australia was renamed Valemus. On 10th March, 2011, Lend Lease announced completion of its acquisition of Valemus. Baulderstone, Abigroup and Conneq are now subsidiaries of Lend Lease.]
Just after 12.30 a.m. on Saturday, 28th March, 2009, two van-loads of thugs were delivered to the residence of Thomas (Tom) Clark, a then apprentice/mechanic employed by a Bulahdelah business listed in the local white pages as Baker’s Towing & Auto Centre. Approximately half of the thugs went to the Alum Mountain Park where they invaded the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and assaulted the occupants, the remainder went to the Mobil Service Station. The van which transported said thugs was owned (or leased) by the Plough Inn hotel, Bulahdelah, which is largely patronised by navvying types, including employees of Abigroup and Baulderstone. [Note: the following two photographs are from a document and therefore have colour discrepancies; copies of original images to be inserted at a later date.]
The Bulahdelah Plough Inn hotel’s blue van in which two loads of attempted murderers and other thugs were transported in the early morning hours of Saturday, 28th March, 2009.
Navvies from as far away as the RTA’s Coopernook to Herons Creek project (another RTA atrocity) patronise the Plough Inn hotel, Bulahdelah.
At GDAY Pubs it is stated beside a photograph dated 19/11/2003, under the headings Hotels in Bulahdelah, New South Wales and Plough Inn: ‘This Hotel has recently been bought by ex NRL referee Paul Harrigan’.
At: MARATHON STADIUM.COM Newcastle Nights Discussion it is stated [by ‘Jekk’ on 15-09-2007], under the heading FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: ‘Just when you thought Bill “Hollywood” Harrigan had retreated behind the bar of the Plough Inn at Bulahdelah …’
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A video clip of the Bashing of an Aboriginal Elder and university students at the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy can be accessed through this link.
Copies of the video and of stills from same – including the following – are in various locations around the world.
Note added 16-2-2012: The third – massive – thug has now been identified as being Nathan Huckett, son of Great Lakes Council employee John Huckett.
A university student is the first to be physically attacked. [Note the dark shorts on one of the attackers.] In ‘defence of other’, another uni student [wearing long, light-coloured trousers] takes hold of and begins to tug on the arm of the thug in dark shorts.
Two thugs hold the already bashed university student while a third – massive – thug barges through to the attack. [Note how the thug in the dark shorts holds the student’s arm outstretched for the massive thug to barge into.]
Thug in dark shorts readies to punch uni student [long, light-coloured trousers] who had been tugging on his arm in ‘defence of other’. Two other thugs, the massive one and the one in light-coloured knee-length shorts, continue to assault the already bashed student.
After bashing one university student and punching another, the thug in dark shorts assaults Worimi. [Note the neckline of the T-shirt ‘Dark Shorts’ is wearing.]
While he’s on the ground, Worimi is assaulted by a second thug – the massive one. [Note added 16-2-2012: This massive thug has now been identified as being Nathan Huckett, son of Great Lakes Council employee John Huckett.]
The massive thug [16-2-2012: now identified as being Nathan Huckett] goes to king hit Worimi while Worimi is on the ground and clutching at his chest .
This is one of the accomplices to the attempted murders and bashings of an Aboriginal gentleman and others at the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy on 28th March, 2009.
Two more of the accomplices to said attempted murders and bashings. [The Bulahdelah Bypass network has been notified that the names of these two accomplices are Kimberley Tooze and Max Schlenert.]
The same male accomplice as in the previous photograph. (Name: Max Schlenert.)
Accomplices to attempted murder – 28-3-2009. [The Bulahdelah Bypass network has been notified that the names of these two accomplices are Kimberley Tooze (manageress of the RTA-owned O’Sullivan’s Roadhouse and daughter of Great Lakes Council employee Steven or Stephen Tooze) and Phil Barry (RTA/RMS/subcontractor employee and son of a Forests NSW employee).]
The same two accomplices as in the previous photograph. [Names: Kimberley Tooze and Phil Barry.]
Cop at the scene of multiple crimes says, “Shhh Shhh Ange is speaking, not you,” to accomplices to attempted murders and other physical assaults.
Note added 26-3-2011: The blonde with the fellow who indecently exposed himself is Kimberley Tooze, a manager of the O’Sullivans Roadhouse at 999 Pacific Highway, BULAHDELAH. The premises and business of O’Sullivans Roadhouse (a United Petroleum roadhouse) are purportedly owned by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA). [The RTA was renamed Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) on 1-11-2011.]
[Notes – February, 2012: 1. The Bulahdelah Bypass Network has received written confirmation that the O’Sullivan’s Retreat Restaurant and the United Petroleum Roadhouse premises are owned by Roads & Maritime Services (RMS, previously named Roads & Traffic Authority, RTA). 2. The Bulahdelah Bypass Network has been notified that both businesses ceased operation on Thursday, 9th February, 2012.]
‘Cop talking to attacker’ is talking to the thug in the dark shorts – the one who bashed one of the university students in the head five times, then punched another student and then assaulted Worimi.
‘Cop talking to Attacker’ [attempted murderer, ‘Dark Shorts’] sees that they’re being filmed.
Cop and attempted murderer converse after spotting videoer.
Attempted murderer (‘Dark Shorts’) looks at videoer and calls out, “Russ!”.
A close-up of the thug in the dark shorts (and v-necked T-shirt) and the tattooed arm of, “Russ,” (who held the university student in place for him to bash five times in the head).
Cop and the attempted murderer wearing dark shorts watch while tattooed thug, “Russ,” physically assaults the person with the video camera.
Copies of the video and of stills from same – including the above – are in various locations around the world.
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On 28th March, 2009, the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy was located in the lower section of the Alum Mountain Park. It was in an area advertised by the RTA in Newsletters 3 and 4 as not affected by their Option E route. The RTA was not being impeded by either the embassy or its campers.
In response to an article published in the Herald of 6th November, 2009, [accessed 8-5-2010] one of the police officers who, on 28th March, 2009, took the side of attempted murderers and other thugs who assaulted an elderly Aboriginal gentleman and others at the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy further revealed his corrupt character. His comments, which were published by the Herald on 8-11-2009, also provide motive.
Lies and vilification by Bulahdelah police officer, Patrick Schaefer.
The relevant section of the above letter:-
On the issue of timely completion, the RTA is trying to start work on bypassing Bulahdelah township but is being held up by a bunch of blow-ins who won’t accept the decision made by the RTA (in consultation with the Bulahdelah community and Karuah Land Council) on where to build it. The Govt has been a bit slow and steady but the fault isn’t theirs alone.
Posted [at the Herald] by Pat, 8/11/2009 1:44:45 PM
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Typed excerpt from RTA (now named Roads & Maritime Services) CIG (Community Interest Group) August, 2011, meeting notes and statement made by Save the AlumSacredMountain, Bulahdelah,group member. [Sourced at Save the Alum Sacred Mountain, Bulahdelah. Statement, emphasis added, republished with permission.]
7) Mountain Park- future management.
Park will be managed by Council and an arrangement with the RTA and Council will need to be made regarding the long term maintenance. [THIS PARK IS THE MAIN PICNIC GROUNDS OF BULAHDELAH MOUNTAIN PARK REGISTERED PUBLIC RESERVE: https://bulahdelahbypass.wordpress.com/h1-heritage-culture-multicultural-wanton-destruction/] Council are tendering on some of the improvents [sic] works. . . .
The name of one of the attempted murderers who, in the early morning hours of Saturday, 28th March, 2009, invaded the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy in the AlumMountainPark and bashed Worimi and others is NATHAN HUCKETT. He is a son of Great Lakes Council navvy made manager, John Huckett. The following, combined with the above, provides possible motive.
[As published at: HIGHWAY ‘UPGRADES’ USED AS WEAPONS OF TORTURE.]http://nsw-highway-upgrades.blogspot.com/2008/10/bulahdelah.html:-
On the 19th September, 2008, in a video interview at the Alum Mountain Park (which is ‘managed’ by State Forests, not council, and would be entirely obliterated) Great Lakes Council’s Parks and Recreation Manager, David Bortfeld, displayed that council’s use of underhanded, undemocratic practices remains unchanged.
David Bortfeld, who was in the company of a council navvy made manager, John Huckett, stated his purpose in being at the Alum Mountain Park as:
“My role is to, with the C.O.D. [i.e. Cash on Delivery] project, have a look to see how the bypass affects community assets.”
“I just have a vested interest in one of the cogs in the wheel.”
“As part of the process my opinion is sought on some of the recreation assets for the Bulahdelah community and how that affects the Bulahdelah people. And what potential gains there could be had by having the bypass here.
You offset the benefits that way.”
He additionally stated:
“I’m absolutely positive that every aspect of the impact of the roadway’s been addressed. It’s been thoroughly investigated and the least course of resistance as far as impact on the community’s been chosen.”
David Bortfeld admitted that he had not read the Environmental Impact Statement; he showed unfamiliarity with the Alum Mountain Park; and he appeared vacuous regarding Scott Street and the fact that it would be used as a haulage road.
David Bortfeld’s ‘look’ to see ‘how’ community assets would be affected consisted of a cursory glance at a State Forests’ sign which does not provide details of the Alum Mountain Park and a brief stroll across the lower section of the park to the vicinity of the power line track. During the stroll, John Huckett’s hand gestures indicated that David Bortfeld was being grossly misinformed about the RTA’s proposal.
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6-10-2011: RTA/Baulderstone navvy throws rock at four year old.
Video clip: Bulahdelah Bypass construction “worker” throws rock at group with 4yo boy.
Still from video clip published at Save the Alum Sacred Mountain, Bulahdelah. “Rock Thrower: Do you want me to throw another one … [expletive – in front of four year old].”
Further excerpts from video clip:-
Videoer: “You just admitted to throwing rocks at us.”
Videoer: “… You’re the one chucking rocks at women and four year old kids.”
Navvy: “It’s not the first time either.”
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this is bloody disgusting n sick, it’s about time their land is left alone and people stop being barbaric for money 😦
Love You Poppy Simone Lousiee Dates ❤