Case Study: Towra Point in Focus

Towra Point Nature Reserve is an iconic, internationally recognised Ramsar Wetland of Importance, approximately 16km south of Sydney’s centre, on the northern side of the Kurnell Peninsula which forms the southern shore of Botany Bay and consists of 386.5 hectares of wetlands. The dominant habitats within the Reserve are saltmarsh and open woodland, important remnant terrestrial vegetation and wildlife habitats, and migratory wading bird habitats. The Reserve is surrounded by large areas of mudflat, mangroves and seagrass beds. These are habitats of high conservation significance within the region. Towra Point includes fifty per cent of the remaining mangroves in Sydney and most of the saltmarshes remaining in the Sydney region. Towra Point Nature Reserve also has important cultural values with three Aboriginal sites recorded within the Reserve. Towra Lagoon, which is adjacent to Towra Beach, probably provided freshwater for Aboriginal communities, and was mapped by James Cook in 1770. Towra Point Nature Reserve includes the adjacent Towra Point Aquatic Reserve, the largest and most diverse estuarine wetland complex remaining in the Sydney area. 

Towra Point Nature Reserve, gazetted on 6th August 1982 under the NSW National Park and Wildlife Act, 1974, is surrounded by an industrial environment which includes the Caltex oil refinery, desalination plant, sand mining operations and other light industries. Urban development places further pressure on the natural environment through land clearing and the construction of hard surfaces such as roads and pavements which increases runoff into waterways and reduces natural groundwater infiltration. The dredging of Botany Bay over many years to facilitate shipping movements, which will ultimately increase with the Port Expansion, construction of the second and third runways of Kingsford Smith Airport, laying of underwater electricity cables for Energy Australia and the Sydney Water desalination plant distribution pipelines have altered the natural underwater hydrology resulting in changed wave patterns which increases beach erosion. 

The Towra Point Nature Reserve Plan of Management 2001 vision statement prepared by National Parks and Wildlife Service acknowledged the changing dynamics of Botany Bay and stated that the habitats of the Towra Point will be protected, alongside a better appreciation of the wetland on the doorstep of Australia’s largest city. However, the Plan of Management 2001 conceded that no comprehensive strategy exists to coordinate effective management of the Towra Point wetlands despite a history of recognition as to the high nature conservation values of the area.

Despite Towra Point Nature Reserve being declared a Ramsar Wetland of international significance in 1984, the first ecological character description of the site was compiled in 2010 by N.S.W government. Under the Ramsar Convention, Australia is obliged to complete an ecological character description of the site and maintain its accuracy. The ecological character description is an important tool to monitor the status of a wetland and set limits of acceptable change to prevent any further degradation of the area. The Victorian Government’s Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) compiled a framework for describing the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands (DSE 2005). A national framework for describing the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands was developed using DSE’s framework (DEWHA 2008).

In 2010 the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) produced a report, ‘Towra Point Nature Reserve Ramsar Site’ in June 2010. The report acknowledged the historical use of the Kurnell Peninsula and indeed the Botany Bay Catchment by heavy industries and notes the continuing modifications of the area by industrial and urban development. Essential to maintaining the ecological integrity of Towra Point will be continued monitoring and management which is presently undertaken by a number of government agencies and non-government organisations. Towra Point Nature Reserve is located within and adjacent to the jurisdiction of a number of different government agencies, including the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (DECCW), Industry and Investment NSW (I&I NSW), Sutherland Shire Council, Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority (SMCMA) and NSW Maritime. 

At a local government level, the following environmental plans are relevant:

1. Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No.17- Kurnell Peninsula 

Some of the particular environmental planning aims and objectives of this plan include:

• to preserve and protect the wetland areas of the Kurnell Peninsula in the environmental and economic interest of the State, region and locality.
• to identify and conserve areas, sites and features of natural, ecological, historic or cultural significance. 
• to identify and protect lands having regional and international significance as wildlife habitats.
• to control and progressively phase out sand mining and to facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded lands. 
• to conserve the environmental heritage of the Kurnell Peninsula. 
• to apply environmental performance criteria which will ensure that the environment is not adversely affected by development 

2. Greater Metropolitan Regional Environmental Plan (1999) No.2- Georges River Catchment 

Some of the particular environmental planning aims and objectives of this plan include:

• to preserve and protect and to encourage the restoration or rehabilitation of regionally significant sensitive natural environments such as wetlands (including mangroves, saltmarsh and seagrass areas), bushland and open space corridors within the Catchment, by identifying environmentally sensitive areas and providing for appropriate land use planning and development controls.
• to preserve, enhance and protect the freshwater and estuarine ecosystems within the Catchment by providing appropriate development.
• to aid in the improvement of the environmental quality of Botany Bay in conjunction with other regional planning instruments.
• to maintain and improve the water quality and river flows of the Georges River and its tributaries and ensure that development is managed in a manner that is in keeping with the national, State, regional and local significance of the Catchment  

State obligations to protect biodiversity and ecological integrity are covered by the following legislation: 

• National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974
• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
• Fisheries Management Act 1994 (FM Act)
• Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) 

National obligations to protect biodiversity and ecological integrity are covered by the following legislation:

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)- protects the environment, particularly matters of national environmental significance

International agreements and treaties include:

• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance; a multilateral treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the wise use, or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.  
• The Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA 1981)) for the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction and their environment.
• The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn 1983) which aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.
• The China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA 1988).
• The Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA 2006).
• The Partnership for the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and the Sustainable Use of their Habitats in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (2006)  

With so much industrial activity and development in and around Botany Bay and in particular the Kurnell Peninsula, this blog raises the question; to what extent are local, state and federal governments able to satisfactorily meet their international obligations to comply with the protection of the Ramsar Wetland site of Towra Point and the bilateral CAMBA and JAMBA agreements with China and Japan respectively, presently and into the future. In addition, the number of government agencies and non-government organisations responsible for and involved in the management of such an important area raises questions regarding the capacity for an effective, coordinated and integrated approach of administration. 

See the next post on the importance of the seagrasses located next to the Towra wetlands here

Sources: 

Department of Climate Change and Water (DECC) ‘Kamay Botany Bay National Park’, ‘http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0551 

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, ‘Towra Point Nature Reserve Ramsar Site’, June 2010 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wetlands/10510towrapointecd.htm 

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) ‘Towra Point Nature Reserve Ramsar Site’, Ecological Character Description, Chaps 6 & 7 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/water/10510towrapointecd6and7.pdf  

Greater Metropolitan Regional Environmental Plan (1999) No. 2--Georges River Catchment REG 5 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/gmrepn2rc715/s5.html 

Sutherland Shire Environment Centre (SECC) ‘Towra Point Nature Reserve’, http://www.ssec.org.au/our_environment/our_bioregion/towra/about/index.htm 

Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 17--Kurnell Peninsula (1989) REG 2 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/srepn17p1989562/s2.html 

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-about-about-ramsar/main/ramsar/1-36%5E7687_4000_0__ 

‘Towra Point Nature Reserve Plan of Management, N.S.W National Parks and Wildlife Service, July 2001  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomfinaltowra.pdf

Kurnell in pictures

Welcome Sign

The Caltex Oil Refinery- the first industrial development in Kurnell

 

Oil Tanker

Sand Mining- another early industrial development

 

The Desalination Plant- Kurnell's latest industrial development

Towra Point

Case Study: Caltex Oil Refinery- Caltex's Perspective on Environmental Impacts and what they are doing

In 1951-3 when the Caltex oil refinery was being constructed, Kurnell was a small fishing village, which could only be reached by boat. The construction of the refinery opened up the village by constructing a new road, which in effect opened up the village to increasing numbers of people, houses, and industry.

Today, the Caltex oil refinery at Kurnell is the largest refiner of crude oil in Australia, processing and manufacturing 130,000 barrels (20,670,000 litres) of oil per day and employing 550 people and 200 contractors (M Sullivan 2010, pers. Comm., 7 Oct.). It produces around 50 different products— 50% petrol, 22% diesel as well as jet fuel oil, LPG, butane, bitumen, waxes, process oils and sulfur, and supply’s two thirds of Sydney’s oil product market (Caltex,2006). A 600,000 litre a day lubricating oil refinery is also at Kurnell however this will be closing in 2011 due to outdated processes used there, which were installed in the 1950-s and 60’s, meaning that Caltex will no longer manufacture these products at Kurnell (or anywhere else) (M Sullivan 2010, pers. Comm., 7 Oct.).

There have been several oil spills at Kurnell and in Botany Bay. One of the most devastating oil spills as a result of the Kurnell oil refinery occurred in 1979, when the oil tanker the World Encouragement released 95 tonnes of crude oil into the bay. This spill has been cited by the Australian Government as one of the top 25 major oil spills since 1903. This spill was contained by booms soon after the leak was detected, but the oil already had a 3.5km front and this, combined with bad weather (gale force winds and a high tide), meant that contained areas were breached and the oil moved into Quibray and Weeney Bays, Towra point, and Silver beach. These locations contain mangroves and oyster leases which in turn made it difficult to contain the oil, as methods such as spraying dispersant could not be used. As a result of the spill 100 hectares of mangroves were affected by the oil and 4.4 hectares were destroyed. Furthermore many birds were affected by the oil with 50 birds being captured (although many others were oiled and affected but unable to be caught) and cleaned, with three dying and the rest being released. (Australian Government, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, n.d)

The map below shows the extent of the oil spill from the World Encouragement. “Black lines represent moderate oiling, and dark grey shaded areas are mangroves, shaded cross-hatched areas are slightly oiled, black lines represent oiled shoreline and thick black bands are moderate to heavy oiling in mangrove areas” (Australian Government, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, n.d).

Source: Duke & Burns (1999)

The refinery has had several other adverse impacts on the environment of Kurnell, Botany Bay and surrounding areas such as the Towra Point Wetlands. "The refinery is licensed by the EPA for many environmental discharges including air, groundwater and water pollution, noise, and sludge and for soil conditions on the refinery's landfarm” (SSEC, 2000). This means that it releases effluent and stormwater into the ocean, which on several occasions has produced a oily slick on the surface of the water. Additionally the refinery collects and disposes of cooling water into the Bay (SSEC 2000,2008) causing heat pollution and potentially disrupting the marine ecosystem.

Despite these adverse impacts Caltex claims that it is trying to counter these effects by putting management plans into action and training staff. In 2006 Caltex published a report entitled ‘Kurnells environmental story’ which claims that they have “adopted a more focused approach to the environment. We don’t merely respond to the requirements of regulators; we proactively identify improvements and go after them” (Caltex 2006). It does seem as if the refinery has followed the majority if not all of what they claim in this document, as summarised below: 

Conserving resources for future generations
The plant is very water intensive and is the third largest user of water in the Sydney metropolitan area, using approximately 6 million litres of freshwater daily. Therefore conserving water is a challenge for the oil industry, and Caltex sees it as an important initiative. They are currently recycling 50% of their water used internally and saving water by using wastewater to test the soundness of tank repairs instead of using freshwater (this is a massive saving with the tanks having a capacity up to 65 megalitres) and they have also improved their steam recovery (they generate 350 tonnes of steam an hour). Furthermore Caltex is looking to reduce its potable water use by 50% in the medium term future through options such as using wastewater in more processes, reusing Sydney water sewage treatment effluent, and reusing water by use of reverse osmosis and microfiltration.

Wastewater
The Kurnell plant processes waste water in a three stage onsite treatment plant, in a biotreater consisting of tanks that contain a variety of microorganisms, which decompose contaminants. This treats around 8-14 million litres a day, with the water then pumped into the ocean 100m off the coast. All water leaving the plant is also monitored through online instrumentation and regular manual sampling. 

Groundwater 
The groundwater below the refinery links with Botany Bay and Quibray Bay. Caltex claims they take great care not to contaminate water, by undertaking regular (quarterly) groundwater surveys on their network of permanent groundwater monitoring wells, which is a more extensive program than the Environment Protection Licence requirements. 

Stormwater 
There are two stormwater outlets in the refinery into Botany Bay and Quibray Bay. To protect these areas the refinery uses ‘upstream’ initiatives to make workers more aware of impacts of contaminated stormwater. They have also installed a siphon unit, a concrete pit 7.5 x 2.5 meters and 2.5 meters deep, which allows enough time for water and oil to be separated by gravity with oil present then being skimmed from the surface. 

How we’re contributing to cleaner air 
Caltex claims that without doubt, their most important contribution to the environment over the next decade will be the production of cleaner fuels, to make vehicles more efficient, through initiatives such as the clean fuels project and the manufacturing and development of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) 

The clean fuels project 
Allowing the plant to produce fuel with lower levels of benzene and sulfur which will make a vital contribution to cutting air pollution. The clean fuels project means that the Kurnell plant is producing some of the cleanest fuels in the world, which will result in improved air quality, better health and fewer greenhouse emissions. 

Reducing the impact of our operations 

Air Quality 
The key pollutants emitted from the oil refinery include sulfur, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (propane, butane, and ethane). Air emmisions are monitored on a continuous scheduled basis, and reported back to state environmental agencies, publically available at http://www.npi.gov.au/ 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
The greenhouse emissions at the Kurnell plant have increased overtime, however this is due to increased production, reductions in the amount of emissions released per tonne of crude oil processed (increased efficiency). Cutting greenhouse gases at the refinery is a challenge as creating cleaner fuels is more energy intensive and produces more emissions however emissions will be reduced from vehicles using cleaner fuels. 

Containing Spills 
A 1000 litre mini-tanker to replace the elevated diesel tank and drum, the mini tanker refuels directly from the fuel bowsers thus removing the risk of refueling from heights and reducing the risk of exposure and spills. 

Nitrogen Oxides
The refinery has upgraded one of their furnaces which uses new technology that produces the same thermal output, while producing only an eighth of the nitrogen oxide emissions. 

Sulfur Dioxide Emissions 
Using a sulfur recovery unit, Caltex extracts sulfur from sour crude oil, as a liquid product, recovering approximately 5700 tonnes of sulfur dioxide per year, by converting hydrogen sulfide into liquid sulfur, which is taken offsite to be converted into sulfuric acid, this process saves large amounts of sulfur dioxide emissions. However they still emit approximately 2400 tonnes of sulfur dioxide a year, which is under their licence regulations and they are looking to make further reductions in the future. 

Particulates 
Particulate emissions occur when small particles of dust or fuel escape from furnace stacks. Caltex is running as much of their equipment as possible on natural gas which doesn’t produce particulates, and have modified burners in the furnaces to produce a cleaner, more efficient flame, which has reduced the particulate levels by 95%. This is reflected by a dramatic reduction in the number of particulate related community complaints. 

Odour 
Odours are an unavoidable by-product of the refinery process and are a significant issue for the Kurnell community, with 40% of all complaints being about odour. The main sources of odour are carefully managed so if an odour does reach the community it’s likely source is a fugitive emission (a small leak). Caltex is focused on removing these fugitive emissions by regularly checking valves, gauges and joints to see if any repairs are required. They have also allowed the community to help them by reporting odour intensity and character. 

Waste Management 
Caltex aims to use resources efficiently, by avoiding unnecessary resource consumption, recycling and recovering resources such as energy, and also through use of on site waste treatment of recovering clean oils for reprocessing. The refinery produces many wastes including old concrete, bricks, bottles, timber, cardboard, paper, food wastes, laboratory chemical, spent catalyst, pipes, pumps, valves, metal cut offs and drums. 

Energy Consumption 
Oil refineries are one of the most energy intensive industries in Australia, and this is recognised by Caltex and they acknowledge that they need to reduce their energy consumption. They are attempting to do this through using new technologies and more stable operations, with less interruptions, start ups and shut downs. They are also exploring ways and new technologies they can use to save energy through heat exchange. 

Sources 

Australian Government, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, n.d, Major oil spills in Australia: World Encouragement, Botany Bay, September 1979, Australian Government, accessed October 7 2010, http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Major_Oil_Spills_in_Australia/World_Encouragement/index.asp 

Caltex 2006, Kurnell's environmental story, Business Writers, Australia

Duke, N.C. & Burns, K.A., 1999 Fate and effects of oil and dispersed oil on mangrove ecosystems of Australia: Final Report to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville

Sullivan, M., personal communication, October 7 2010

Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, 2000, Issues of concern- Kurnell peninsula: presentation to Botany Bay program meeting, SSEC, accessed 2 October 2010 http://www.ssec.org.au/our_environment/issues_campaigns/kurnell/issues_of_concern.htm 

Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, 2008, The Kurnell Peninsula: Oil Refinery, SSEC, accessed 2 October 2010 <http://www.ssec.org.au/our_environment/our_bioregion/kurnell/issues/oil_refinery.htm>

Sites of Aboriginal significance around Kurnell

Middens, rock shelters, engravings and burial sites provide evidence that Botany Bay is an important area for Aboriginal heritage. As Gweagal elder Aunty Beryl Timbery-Beller says, “Those middens can tell a story… (a midden) is like walking into a library…” Les Bursill, a Dharawal historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, and publisher, points out that while evidence of Aboriginal occupation can be found all around Kurnell peninsula, much of it has been destroyed by sandmining and other industrial developments: “there are hundreds of middens out there. National Parks has commissioned digs. The digs were done well, but it was too late to save much.”

The following is a list of just some of the known significant Aboriginal historical sites on the Kurnell Peninsula:

• An archeological site at Potter Point is “the only remaining place on the shore of Botany Bay where material evidence for the study of prehistory is known to be available”
• In 1972 a burial area was uncovered at Kurnell village
• The rock shore in the park near Inscription Point (the landing place) extending around the sea shore to the east side of Boat Harbour contains a rock shelter and several areas of one large midden that were excavated by Megaw, and at Boat harbour are three very large middens. 
• On the high dunes above Potter Point there are no middens but there have been extensive stone working areas and numerous collections of stones indicating fireplaces. Large amounts of scattered stone relics have been found from the valley east of Potter Point but all the individual sites have been wrecked by earth-moving operations 
• The sand hills of Kurnell possess historical, cultural, scientific and natural significance as a place of early European contact with the Gweagal Aborigines. The sand hills have significant Aboriginal signs of habitation, from carvings, ceremonial sites, middens and sites of flaked sharpening stones. They are of significant interest to the Aboriginal community as many of the other hills and dunes that were inhabited by their ancestors have now disappeared. As the dunes move or drift, many of the sites once occupied by Aboriginal people have been covered and preserved. 
• Towra Point Nature Reserve contains three known sites of significance. Parts of Towra Point were used for food (seafood and waterfowls) and freshwater from the ponds. These ponds no longer contain freshwater due to greater waves impacting on the shore from the airport.

Sources

Anderson, D.J., The Botany Bay Project: A Handbook of the Botany Bay Region- some preliminary background papers, Australia, O'Grady and Sons Pty Ltd, p.46

Aunty Beryl Timbery-Beller, 2006, Plaque, Kurnell landing place wharf

Interview with Les Bursill (see http://kurnell.blogspot.com/2010/10/interview-with-les-bursill.html) 

National Parks and Wildlife Service 1998

Towra Point Nature Reserve, National Parks Journal-- biodiversity legislation http://www.wpsa.org.au/default2.asp?contentID=9

  

Book Review- D'harawal, Seasons and Climatic Cycles

D'Harawal- Seasons and Climatic Cycles

Frances Bodkin

Kurnell Coastline (Danny Kennedy)

When Captain Cook arrived at Kurnell he began a process of the Europeanisation of Australia that involved not only bringing European plant and animal species, but also ways of relating to place. On to the Australian climate was imposed the terms Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. And ever since, Australians have been confused by periods of drought and unexpected storms that don’t seem to fit into the calendar.

Frances Bodkin’s book, D’harawal Seasons and Climate Cycles, reminds us that before Cook arrived, the local people had their own seasonal calendar that was in tune with the Australian landscape and weather patterns. Her book is about the weather and times of the year as they were known to the original inhabitants of the Southern Sydney region. 

Most residents of Kurnell today begin their day with an alarm clock, shortly followed by the roar of airplanes overhead and the rumble of trucks beginning their commute down Captain Cook drive. As the sun sets over the Western rim of Botany Bay the factories are still humming as the night workers arrive for their shift.

Kurnell oil refinery (Emma)

Reading Bodkin’s book gives a glimpse into a different Sydney and a far more sophisticated culture than many people realise. As she writes in her introduction: “We were intelligent, observing people, who had a complex system of protecting knowledge from being lost.”

In the climate framework detailed in Bodkin’s book the day begins with the Time of the Kookaburra Laughing (Gugagara’djanaba) and ends with the Silence of the Night (Nguwing’kapo).

The annual cycle begins with Ngoonungi – the September-October of the European calender – and is the time of ‘cool, getting warmer’ (Murrai’yunggory). From October to January is Parra’dowee, a time of warm and wet (Gooray’murrai).

January and February is Gadulung Marool – hot and dry – the time of the kangaroo (Burran). The time of the kangaroo may be the peak of the modern Australian bbq season but in traditional times, Bodkin writes, the people were forbidden to eat meat or fish because this was the breeding season for kangaroos and wallabies, and cooking fires could spark bushfires.

March, April and May was Bana’marrai’yung – wet becoming colder. This was the time to move from the highlands and plains to the coastal areas. The season is named after the Spotted Quoll (Marrai’gang) because during this time the quoll’s raucous cries can be heard through the bushland as it calls for its mate.

The beginning of Tugarah Tuli, the cold, frosty, short days, are signaled by the flowering of the Burringoa (Eucalyptus tereticornis)and corresponds to May and June in the European calendar.

The final season is Tugarah Gunya’marri – cold and windy. With the blooming of the Marrai’uo (Acacia Floribunda) come the cold, south-westerly winds, and the days begin to get longer.

Overlaid on top of this annual cycle was another cycle (Mudong) which ran over around a dozen years. This cycle commences with the appearance of the Southern Aurora in the skies over Dharawal lands, and governs larger climactic trends, including periods of drought.

For all of these little and big cycles – the seasons and shifts – there were natural indicators that signaled longer-term changes in the weather. These included things like the flowering of certain Eucalypts and the behaviour of particular animals.

Frances’ book brings together the knowledge of 106 D’harawal descendents. She notes that in gathering this knowledge she discovered a “pattern of information protection” in which “each family has knowledge about a particular season or cycle, but each family member has different knowledge about that season or cycle.” Tracing the knowledge became a search for the Dudbaya’ora – the hidden ones – those who had ‘disappeared’ after children had been taken from them or from friends or relatives.

The writing of this book is a step towards protecting that knowledge again before it disappears forever. Yet this is only one of hundreds or possibly thousands of permutations of these calendars across the various Australian Aboriginal nations.

(Frances can be contacted and books obtained from dharawal@tpg.com.au)

- Reviewed by Else Kennedy

Interview with Les Bursill

An interview was recently conducted with Les Bursill OAM by Else Kennedy. Les is a Dharawal historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, and publisher. He is one of the authors of a recent collaborative work Dharawal: the story of the Dharawal speaking people of Southern Sydney. This is the transcript. 

Les Bursill (Monika Heary, The Sutherland Shire Leader)

What was the significance of Kurnell to the Dharawal and Gweagal peoples?

It’s not altogether clear that the Gweagal were the people who occupied the area in pre-colonial times. Some people have suggested that the Gweagal is a post-colonial clan. In other words they are people who came after Phillip.


Of course my aboriginal contemporaries demand that they are the people who have traditional ownership of the land, so there is some debate about that.


So the significance of Kurnell is that Gwea means place gal means people. So they associate themselves with the natural environment – with that part of the bay.


The natural features at Kurnell were a stream running through the area and native grasses, there were fruit trees we know from the accounts of Cook and Banks that the Aboriginal people fished a lot, as well as eating a diet of fruits and berries.


Something that isn’t really known is the spiritual significance of the area, is that right?
As far as spiritual significance goes, the area was a camp site, it was a good place to live. I don’t there was any particular spiritual reason for being there. Because it’s low and on the sea shore, it was mainly a family gathering place. The people there were all related. It was an occupation place, a campsite. Maybe there was dancing and corroborees, but they would have been social gatherings rather than spiritual or religious. 


Since 1953 Industry has moved in on the peninsula. What impact has that had on the way the land has been used? 
A lot of that change has taken place in my lifetime. I was 8 years old in 1953. I know that Aboriginal people preferred camping on the other side in the sandhills, they were camping there when I was young. When the Holts and the other bloodsuckers came in, layer upon layer of campsites were dug up and destroyed. They were just destroyed as they sucked the sand out of the place. I saw that myself. In the late 70s I was studying at university. I went there again 1985 and found evidence of animal bones and charcoal. The bones I found were inland marsupials. There were definitely campsites all through that area.


If you go to the internet and search Neermaps and type in Kurnell peninsula you can see what has happened there. Where they’ve taken the sand away there are now bodies of water. Some of the bones I found were in the area that has been mined.

A body of water on Kurnell Peninsula in an area that has been mined (Else Kennedy)

Where the Shell refinery is now there were once lagoons and marshland that abounded in frogs and fish. It was a proper paradise. Everyone thinks of kurnell thinks of one side of the Peninsula. They just think of the grassy slope. Actually there are two sides to the peninsula. 


The degradation of the sites means it would be useless for traditional purposes now. The water is polluted, the native species have been taken out. It is just scrubland, it’s pretty but it’s just a place. It’s not productive land any more. 


Are there Aborginal people who have opposed turning the Kurnell peninsula into an industrial zone?
Yes, I have made many representations. The La Perouse community has made many representations. But they’re even mining the Burrup peninsula (in WA) I was up there just a few weeks ago. That is an area that is full of rock paintings and a highly significant area, but mining interests are more important.


When the Holts got that farm out there that was beautiful land. Holt logged the area, ran cattle and sheep over it and reduced the land to just to sandhills, even shooting the koalas out of the trees, because you know how dangerous they are! One of my ancestors – Timothy Bursill worked for Holt. Now, after sandmining the area they’ve sold it out. A lot of people think Holt's really wonderful, that he’s a pioneer. I think he’s just an environmental vandal. The last bit would be to say not to kill a dying man.


There are hundreds of middens out there. National Parks has commissioned digs. The digs were done well, but it was too late to save much. 


Which of the industries do you think poses the biggest threat environmentally on the peninsula?
Well you’d have to say the oil refinery. But the biggest impact on bay would be the desalination plant. There’s also Carbon black, which has had a significant environmental impact.


The Oil refinery pumps fumes into the air, and there is also spillage on the ground and water contamination. The whole of the peninsula is pumping fumes into Sydney. Sutherland shire has the highest asthma rates in Sydney. Ask yourself why. 


Is sectioning off a small area for National Park enough?
Well Alpha house in the National Park is built on the biggest midden, a very significant historical site. You could say that National Parks has contributed to the destruction of Aboriginal heritage. They have chosen the best spot to put a house, it also happens to be an old camping ground. All down the South Coast, churches are perched on the top of hills, which are often old Aboriginal camping grounds.


National parks won’t even let us go into our own sites. They have prescription against people going in there now. There is no continuity of connection with country itself. Our access to our own sites has been dramatically altered by National Parks.   


Where do you see Kurnell heading, and what can be done? 
There has been so much harm done in Botany Bay. The water is polluted. The airport is expanding. There are toxic chemicals leaching into the Bay. What could we possibly do to make it better? Except taking out the structures that already exist. National parks are attempting to restore the peninsula to something like it would have been, replanting native species. That’s the best we can hope for I think.  


Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Well I think with the Gweagal people, my theory is that the Gweagal people came in after the original inhabitants were wiped out by disease. Around 1820 I think only one or two of the original aboriginal inhabitants were left alive. I think what happened is that the original inhabitants died out around 1820, and other groups moved in from further south.  As an archeologist I know that what the Gweagal are saying doesn’t stack up, but it does stack up with the traditions of the aboriginal people from the south coast. The rock engravings don’t tell the same story as the Gweagal traditions. They tell a different story, an older story. I think this is one of the tales of extinctions of traditional peoples around Sydney. It has happened many times in history - small groups die out and others move in. People move around all the time, people come and go.


Lee has a website called "The Archaeology of the Dharawal People of NSW" http://www.lesbursill.com   


He can be contacted at Les.bursill@gmail.com

Interview with Merv Ryan

Merv Ryan is a spokesperson for the Dharawal peoples. He grew up in La Perouse and now works with Sutherland Shire Council for recognition and respect of Dharawal culture and Aboriginals who now live, work and study in the area. This interview was conducted by Else Kennedy

Merv Ryan (third from the left) at a reconciliation event at Cook's Landing May 2008 (Chris Lane: St George and Sutherland Shire Leader)

What is the significance of Kurnell to local Aboriginal people?

The Aboriginal people at Kurnell are all Dharawal people. I grew up in La Perouse but now I live in Sutherland. We always come over here fishing, hunting and everything. Cut trees for didgerdoos and all that. The feed sources in the mangroves are very good. We go and do towra and all that. 

How has industry affected the way people use the land?
With all the businesses and that, the refineries and the desalination plant, it’s hard to know what’s good and bad. The national park there is still alright. But out in the water its changed a lot since when we were kids.

Have you noticed a difference in what you catch when you’re fishing out there from when you were a kid? 
Yeah, we’ve lost of lot of fish. We’ve lost some fish species. The seafood’s not very good for Aboriginal people there anymore. Now they’ve got laws you can’t get Abalone this and that. 

Trevally caught off Towra Point (http://kfsreports.blogspot.com/)

And what about in Towra Point? You need a permit to go in there now.
I can go in there (Towra point) because I work for national parks. Out there we’ve got an island with little Terns. They fly from Europe they start to nest in there. But know I don’t know if the Terns are gonna come back or not. The big thing now is we’ve got cane toads in Towra Point. We make traps and we trap them. In parts of Towra we’ve got aboriginal burial grounds, so we’ve got to look after all that as well.