Blacks weigh bypass protest

THE Aboriginal community will decide today whether to fight the Brighton bypass to the bitter end.

About 70 people attended a crisis meeting arranged by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Council yesterday to discuss the impact of the $164million project on Aboriginal heritage.

Artefacts estimated to be more than 10,000 years old have been discovered on the proposed bypass route.

TAC legal director Michael Mansell said the meeting had considered a range of submissions on the project and would today vote on whether to attempt to stop the bulldozers using all means necessary.

“Given there is no dispute that the highway will destroy entirely the Aboriginal site, do we concede that it is going to happen or do we protect it at all costs?” Mr Mansell said.

He said the State Government’s handling of the issue highlighted a wider problem with the protection of Aboriginal heritage.

“The Brighton bypass is obviously a very serious issue but there is such a mess with Aboriginal heritage generally and the people dealing with this on a day-to-day basis tell us there is no one in government in control of it,” Mr Mansell said.

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Michael Stedman, Mercury