IPSWICH City Council are aware there is an area of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage at Mount Marrow and it is one of three sites shortlisted for a Western Resource Recovery Centre, yet that hasn’t knocked it off the shortlist.

Earlier consultation with the community indicated a preference for the existing Rosewood Recycling and Refuse Centre being upgraded rather than a new site found.

Mayor Teresa Harding said this was a possibility as a site directly opposite the tip was suitable to facilitate its expansion.

Ipswich Lockyer Greens spokesperson Danielle Mutton has spoken out on behalf of residents against the Mt Marrow location.

“What I don’t understand is why a bora ring on council owned land is not protected and why this site is even being considered,” she said.

“Have First Nations elders been consulted and why can’t they gift the land back so it can be protected and culture practiced.”

She said the site was not listed under the Ipswich City Council Traditional Land Access Strategic Policy.

Other concerns are understood to be the heavy traffic [trucks] a centre would bring and that the site is near a school.

“The other thing locals were cranky about is they only got something in their letterbox from council about the consultation session the day it happened,” she said.

As previously reported in Moreton Border News, the Rosewood tip, council land at Mount Marrow and a private property at Jeeropilly were shortlisted sites for a Western Resource Recovery Centre.

Three sites shortlisted for the dump were:

• 94 and 95 Oakleigh Colliery Road, Rosewood (currently the Rosewood

Recycling and Refuse Centre);

• Lot 1 and 2, unnamed road, Mount Marrow (council owned land); and

• 486-516 Ipswich Rosewood Road, Jeebropilly (privately owned land).

Cr Harding said the three shortlisted sites had been honed down from a list of 750.

“Council is aware of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Mt Marrow area and regularly engages with the registered Native Title Party in matters relating to sites of significance,” Division four councillor David Cullen said.

“There is no intention to damage or destroy any culturally significant sites or values.

“It is encouraging to hear the community raising these matters, as well as any other social and environmental matters through this consultation period.”

Environment and Sustainability Committee Chair Councillor Jim Madden said during initial consultation on potential locations in 2022 residents ‘made it very clear’ they wanted to be part of the decision making process.

“Council agreed to that and the current consultation is a continuation of us delivering on that commitment,” he said.

“The three sites have been put forward as potential sites as they meet the minimum criteria to be considered, such as land area and planning.

“The criteria was shared with the community for their feedback, with the four areas being agreed to as planning, environment, technical and financial.

“Council was also very clear that community sentiment will play an important role in any consideration of a final location with a preferred location not to be considered until community feedback has been sought.”

Cr Cullen said council understood the Thagoona Mt Marrow community’s concerns about the current process, including that residents want to be kept more informed about how a Resource Recovery Centre site is selected.

“We have listened to these concerns and will improve how we communicate with residents over the rest of this consultation process.”