The chair of an Tasmanian Indigenous alliance says he is extremely concerned after an Aboriginal heritage site was damaged by a state government agency who covered it during "routine maintenance work to an existing fire trail".
The site at Trevallyn Reserve, near Launceston, a place home to 11 sited listed on the Tasmanian Aboriginal Site Index, is estimated to be hundreds of years old and held more than 100 Aboriginal artefacts and tools.
The works which damaged the site were completed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, who, according to the ABC, covered the former gravel track with a compacted imported fill.
Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Corporations Alliance (TRACA) chair Nick Cameron said news of the site's damage was extremely concerning.
"Whilst not familiar with this particular cultural site or the assessment process that was undertaken, TRACA is extremely concerned that it appears an application to undertake these works proceeded without an appropriate heritage assessment that should have identified the significance of the area and made recommendations to protect the site from further damage," Mr Cameron told National Indigenous Times.
"It is especially concerning the artefact sites may have been listed on the AHT Heritage Register and yet the approval proceeded regardless."
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service sought advice from Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania archaeologists before commencing work on the "existing fire trail", however, the ABC reports the stage government agency responsible for the protection and management of the state's Aboriginal heritage advised works "could proceed without the need for a permit and formal consultation".
Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania (AHT) did not respond to questions posed by National Indigenous Times, however a Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) spokesperson said in 2025 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service sought advice from Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania before commencing routine maintenance work to an existing fire trail.
"Advice was provided that works could proceed with a high degree of caution according to an Unanticipated Discovery Plan," the spokesperson said.
"Based on the assessment that no known artefacts would be impacted, there was no requirement under the Act to engage an Aboriginal Heritage Officer to monitor the works or consult with the Aboriginal community."
The spokesperson said NRE Tas is currently investigating allegations that the resurfacing of the fire trail may have impacted on Aboriginal Heritage stone artefacts.
"Staff have inspected the trail, and the matter remains under review," they said.
After a review of the state's 1975 Aboriginal Heritage Act was released in 2021, public consultation on Tasmania's dated Aboriginal Heritage Act began earlier this year.
Aboriginal organisations including TRACA have been liaising directly with government on proposed changes, while other Aboriginal communities claim to have been "completely shut out".
Mr Cameron said the new bill should seek to prevent incidents such as the latest damage to Tasmania's Aboriginal heritage.
"It is another example why the Aboriginal Heritage Act must be improved and why TRACA is working constructively with Government to ensure the new legislation which is currently under review is the best it can be to prevent this kind of destruction of our precious heritage, he said.
"TRACA calls on the AHT, NRE Parks, and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to conduct a comprehensive review and inform the Aboriginal community what the outcomes of the review are and any recommendations that come from the process."
Tasmanian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Bridget Archer, did not respond to questions posed by National Indigenous Times. A Tasmanian government spokesperson said the government "takes reports of this nature very seriously and a review is currently underway to investigate the concerns raised".
Public consultation on Tasmania's Aboriginal Heritage Act remain open until 6 July, with submissions able to be made online.
