Despite the fraudulent name, the so-called upgrade of the Pacific Highway at Bulahdelah – route Option E – is not a bypass at all. The mountain section of roadway, part of which is located in twenty five metre deep colluvium (materials from previously-occurred landslides/mudslides) is dangerous, with ongoing multiple rock-falls, landslides and mudslides risks for road users and the community. It is set hard against the township within dedicated (in 1984) Public Reserve which – with the assistance of (now ex M.P.) Ian Macdonald – was acquired by the RTA under an outdated (1979) dedication as State Forest. The township’s sole tourism asset, on Forestry Commission record as having attracted thousands of visitors per year, has been mutilated and internationally significant heritage and culture, both Aboriginal (Worimi), has been destroyed. Internationally significant mining heritage has also been mutilated and destroyed. From The Bulahdelah (Alum Mountain) Alunite Mine Site-Complex Report: A Cultural Heritage Assessment with Reference to the Proposed Bulahdelah Pacific Highway Upgrade Route Option E, 2001 by Navin Officer Heritage Consultants:- • The only commercially exploited alunite deposit, or commercial source of mineral potassium in New South Wales. • The only known commercially exploited alunite deposit of its type in Australia (within volcanic rocks, and with an elevated mountain context). • The only Australian alunite deposit commercially exploited in the nineteenth century. • The first to be exploited in Australia, and of the longest commercial duration (1878/1886-1952). • The only major producer of alunite or mineral potassium in Australia up to the late twentieth century. • The only mine in Australia where the commercial manufacture of alum was attempted on-site (1890 - 1892). The community’s Alum Mountain Park, the Main Picnic Grounds of Bulahdelah Mountain Park dedicated Public Reserve, the location of the mine-site processing plant, although not within the ‘footprint’ of the road, has also been mutilated – extremely so. The township itself has also been altered as a part of the Option E[RADICATOR] scheme, with gross changes made to the historic shopping centre, including decreasing the amount of parking available – presumably to make it appear that the number of shoppers hasn’t altered – and creating footpath and roadway tripping hazards for pedestrians. An unaesthetic public toilet has been located at the township’s entrance and an almost equally unaesthetic campground has been located on the southern side of the Myall River – immediately downstream of the confluence of the Myall and Crawford Rivers and *within* the floodway. People’s homes have been blasting damaged – some severely – and the RTA – RMS – has denied responsibility. Private property is being knowingly and deliberately flooded and eroded and the RTA – RMS – claim that they’re entitled to do that. The entire township - and far beyond - has been exposed at length, some people on an ongoing 24/7 basis, to deadly silica dust and other noxious substances. https://youtube/watch?v=x9rLzy_plU8 Silica dust is just as deadly as asbestos; it’s the sole cause of the terminal lung disease silicosis and is also a Group 1 human carcinogen. People dying of silicosis drown in their own blood. There are increased air pollution (from traffic fumes – a recognised human carcinogen) and noise pollution levels within the township, with numerous people being affected by the semi ‘surround-sound’ – and uphill climb for trucks – situation knowingly and deliberately caused by the RTA – RMS. The Option E roadway, with its traffic fumes - including diesel exhaust fumes, a World Health Organization recognised carcinogen - is directly above Bulahdelahs water supply - open dams which hold the treated water. The corrupt manner in which the Option E route was processed is the root-cause of incidences of violence perpetrated against decent, law-abiding citizens who were striving by entirely peaceable legal means to protect the area. Physical injuries due to said violence include:- • A heart attack (during attempted murders and other assaults of people at the Bulahdelah Aboriginal Tent Embassy on 28th March, 2009). • Severe blood infection (as a result of stab-wound to the head during the 28/3/’09 assaults). • Open heart bypass surgery (as a result of the 28/3/’09 assaults). • Severe head, facial and mouth injuries (during the 28/3/’09 assaults). • Severe ligament injuries to arms and sternum (during the 20th September, 2009 assaults). And more. The negative impacts of the corruptly processed and fraudulently named ‘Bulahdelah Bypass’ on the historic Bulahdelah Mountain (long-term nickname: the Alum Mountain, traditional – Worimi – name: Boolah Dillah, the Great Rock), on the township and on the Bulahdelah community are both extreme and permanent.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:07:54 +0000
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