Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has called for an immediate halt to tree clearing at Barrambin / Victoria Park as concerns grow over the absence of First Nations cultural heritage from the Queensland Government's new draft legacy plan for Victoria Park.

YMAC reported about 200 trees had been removed by Saturday morning after clearing began last week, while the corporation says four Section 10 applications seeking long-term protection of Barrambin / Victoria Park remain unresolved before Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt.

Yagara Elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said the clearing should stop while cultural heritage applications remain unresolved.

"Barrambin holds irreplaceable Magandjin Yagara cultural heritage and our shared heritage and histories that many, many thousands in the wider community value," she said.

"We don't agree with the destruction of old trees or further destruction anywhere on the site, while the Section 10 applications remain unresolved and further federal cultural heritage protections are being pursued."

YMAC has lodged further emergency applications under Sections 9 and 18 as tree clearing continues, seeking temporary federal protection while the longer-term Section 10 process remains unresolved.

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt is responsible for determining applications under the Act.

Mr Watt previously rejected two Section 9 applications on 31 May relating to early works at Barrambin / Victoria Park, saying he was unable to be satisfied they met the statutory requirements for emergency declarations.

At the time, Mr Watt confirmed another Section 9 application and four Section 10 applications seeking longer-term protection remained under assessment, with a Section 10 reporter appointed to undertake a more detailed review.

YMAC's latest emergency applications were lodged following the recent tree clearing, seeking federal intervention while the longer-term protection process remains unresolved.

Ms Charlton told National Indigenous Times contact with YMAC over the new planning process had been minimal, with the corporation receiving an invitation to a presentation shortly before bulldozers moved onto the site.

"We have had minimal contact and, well, we've had no contact," she said.

She also questioned claims that cultural and wildlife monitoring had taken place during the clearing.

"I want to see evidence of who they contracted to do the cultural monitoring and the wildlife monitoring," she said.

Ms Charlton said community members had reported distressed cockatoos and other animals leaving trees as clearing occurred, including a possum seen emerging from a falling tree.

She said white cockatoos held particular cultural significance and raised broader concerns about impacts on wildlife and freshwater systems across the park.

"There's freshwater life there," she said.

"And they'll be being affected by this vibrations and noise to do with the bulldozers and the trees going down. So everything gets affected."

Ms Charlton added at least seven pre-colonial trees, which YMAC refers to as ancestor trees, had also been removed.

The clearing follows the release of the Queensland Government's Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan, which outlines the future of the site around the proposed Brisbane Stadium, National Aquatic Centre and surrounding parklands.

While the document states it builds on Brisbane City Council's earlier Barrambin / Victoria Park Master Plan, it does not explicitly refer to Aboriginal people, First Nations people or Traditional Custodians, and Barrambin appears only in reference to the previous council plan.

Previous master plans are available via the Save Victoria Park website.

The difference is significant compared with Brisbane City Council's 2022 draft and 2023 final plans, which placed Aboriginal history and Traditional Custodian involvement throughout their vision for the park.

Council's earlier planning included Indigenous spaces, Traditional Custodian engagement and a dedicated cultural landscape strategy.

The 2022 draft described Barrambin as a place where Aboriginal people had lived, gathered, performed ceremony and cared for Country over thousands of years, while also proposing truth-telling, Aboriginal language and cultural interpretation.

Ms Charlton said YMAC wanted greater transparency around the works and the basis for cultural heritage decisions.

"I want to know who advised the contractor that there's no cultural heritage in those trees," she said.

YMAC has maintained its support for the Olympic Games while opposing the impact on Barrambin.

"We have always said we support the Olympics," Ms Charlton said.

"That support must include respect for First Nations cultural heritage."

Save Victoria Park is supporting YMAC's emergency federal applications and has called a Save Our Legacy Community Rally for 23 August.

National Indigenous Times sought comment twice from the Premier's Office and GIICA regarding the Draft Legacy Plan, Traditional Owner consultation, cultural heritage assessments and wildlife monitoring, but both failed to respond by the given deadlines.

Minister Murray Watt has been contacted for comment.