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Subscriber only The campaign to save the Gympie Pyramid from the $1 billion bypass has been dealt a blow with Federal Environment Minister Sussan ley rejecting an application for emergency protection of the site. A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment said Ms Ley decided against making the declaration as she was not satisfied the area was a significant Aboriginal area for the purposes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. Campaigners for the preservation of the site, also called Djaki Kundu, applied to Ms Ley s office for the declaration in January after failing to secure an injunction to halt the work last November in Brisbane s Supreme Court.
The Federal Environment Minister was asked to issue emergency protection for the site from the Gympie Bypass amid claims it had Aboriginal significance.
The site is an important gathering space for Kabi Kabi people. Sunshine Coast Council will put in place a fenced area to protect a shell midden mound and associated artefacts at the park. Interpretative signage about Kabi Kabi peoples connections to the site and the shell midden is also planned. The inclusion of a fenced dog off-leash area follows a community consultation process which resulted in 204 surveys completed and a community meeting to hear from a further 40 community members sharing their valuable local knowledge, thoughts and ideas. The dog off-leash area will be installed at the northern end of the park and will include seating, rubbish bin, water tap and shade trees.