A local Aboriginal midden in the heart of Bundeena has been damaged near the site of ongoing construction works.
The midden is located on the old Uniting Church grounds which currently is being redeveloped as a residential housing block as part of the development approval for the site one of the conditions was to ensure the preservation of the midden. The midden had collapsed with an adjoining tree fallen over it. Council staff had investigated the site and concluded the midden had collapsed due to natural causes from high winds. A representative from SX Projects, the firm over seeing the construction, had also indicated the midden was sectioned off from the rest of the site and no work had taken place near it.
However, residents near the Uniting Church site suspect the construction works played a role in the midden collapse. For weeks many had been subjected to constant house vibrations triggered by high impact excavation from jack hammers to develop the new access road which will service the residential housing block. One resident claimed that cracks have started forming in their dwelling since the start of the construction. The works have also raised concerns of Councilor Bob Spencer over the parking of large trailer trucks on Scarborough St which the new access road connects to. During these times this has reduced traffic in Scarborough St down to one lane without any assigned workers to direct traffic.
The other factor which may have contributed to the midden collapse is the drought and the resulting lack of rain. This coupled with Bundeena's move from septic to sewerage systems means the site no longer receives the same amount of water and moisture as it has in past years. Many residents have noted the tree canopy is not as green as it once was. This had made better water views for some but the drying out of soil could have hastened the onset of the tree which had fallen over.
To vote on what you think about developement in Bundeena click here.
