The bones of three Aboriginal people, which are thought to be more than 300 years old, were found during excavation works in Noarlunga Downs on February 17, 25 and 26.

A smoking ceremony – attended by Kaurna people, Transport Department staff and archaeologists – was held at the site last week.

Kaurna senior Buster Turner, who has overseen siteworks, said the ceremony was to “release the spirits peacefully into the sky”.

She said the remains could be reburied where they were found if the rail route between Old Honeypot and River roads was moved slightly to the south.

“That site is sacred and significant to our culture,” Ms Turner told the Southern Times Messenger.

“We’re asking the Transport Department to move the rail route so we can leave the bodies where they are.”

The Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association last year called for another route to be found for the 1.2km rail bridge over the Onkaparinga River amid fears it would destroy ancient sites.

Elders said at the time there was “women’s ground” along the rail corridor, within the Onkaparinga River National Park, including ancient artefacts and remains.

Ms Turner said the unearthing of the remains and the continuation of work on the site was “distressing” for the Kaurna community.

“A day or two after the first bones were found there were workers excavating again.

“I found that appalling and disgusting – there was no respect for our culture.”

Flinders University archaeology professor Claire Smith said the discovery of the bones was culturally and scientifically significant.

A Transport Department spokeswoman said work continued “in a manner which is respectful of, and sensitive to, concerns about the exposure of skeletal material”.

“The Aboriginal groups in attendance were given the opportunity to conduct appropriate ceremonies and to participate in securing the remains, pending burial,” she said.

In an emailed response, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Grace Portolesi said she had not intervened in the on-site works.

“The respectful and sensitive management of discoveries of Aboriginal remains during this project are governed by existing plans and agreements, which were negotiated between the Transport Department and the Aboriginal people concerned in recent years,” Ms Portolesi said.

Australian Cultural Heritage Management chief executive Dr Neale Draper, who will be examining the bones, declined to comment.

via Messenger News

Announcing the contract today Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said major construction work on the $291 million, 5.7km extension of the rail line from Noarlunga Centre to the Seaford District Centre would begin early next year, with final design and preliminary works to start this year.

The Government is expected to announce the winning tender for provision of 70 new electric rail cars in the next few weeks and passenger services should begin operating on the extended line in 2013.

Forums: View the latest Seaford rail extension news, photos and updates.

The biggest part of the project will be the construction of the 1.2km Onkaparinga Valley Bridge, which will be the longest bridge in the state.

Mr Conlon said bridge building costs would account for about $250 million of the total $291 million project.

“It’s a very big bridge and the most important step in connecting Seaford with our rail system,” he said.

“The corridor goes over a meandering part of the Onkaparinga River and was purchased a very long time ago. I think it will be a great sight to see.

Mr Conlon said concerns from indigenous leaders that construction of the bridge, which will be longer than the Sydney Harbour Bridge, would disrupt significant cultural sites had been addressed.

“We’ve been very careful about the issues around the river,” he said.

“Obviously in a state with very few rivers, they’ve always been a centre of importance to aboriginal people and we’ve worked very carefully through those issues.”

Theiss has worked on projects including Victoria’s M80 ring road upgrade, while McConnell Dowell was responsible for the Bakewell Underpass.

Construction of the rail line and sleepers will involve enough steel to build 30 Boeing 747s and 11 hectares of vegetation will be planted along the corridor.

via AdelaideNow
 

Video

Contractors are working on the first detailed geotechnical surveys of the extension, preparing the site for construction from mid next year.

The first trains are expected to run on the extension in 2013, in line with the completion of the electrification of the Noarlunga line.

Funding for the project was announced in May as part of the Federal Government’s infrastructure spending in the 2009 Budget.

AdelaideNow

The council will lobby the State Government to fund the extension, which would also service the 4500 people scheduled to move in to the Seaford Heights development over the next 10 years.

The council’s development manager Terry Sutcliffe said the council would request a terminus at Seaford Rise, west of Main South Rd and south of Dalkeith Rd.

“It’s primarily to make sure that we can service the new community in Seaford Heights with good public transport,” Mr Sutcliffe said.

“The residents in Seaford Rise aren’t very well serviced at the moment either.”

The long-awaited 5.5km extension of the rail line from Noarlunga to Seaford Shopping Centre received $291 million in Federal funding in May, with the first trains to be running by 2013.

Plans for the extension included a station in Seaford Meadows, at the corner of Sauerbiers and Railway roads, a terminus on Lynton Tce near the shopping centre, and a 1.2km bridge over the Onkaparinga River.

A report tabled at this week’s council meeting (July 21) stated the Transport Department was concerned about the feasibility of extending the line to Seaford Rise, the impact on travel times and speeds, and passenger numbers at the Seaford and Seaford Meadows stations.

“Conversely, our initial investigations indicate much higher potential patronage levels for a Seaford Rise station than the (department) estimates, particularly if the station shared a ‘park n ride’ with the proposed Seaford Meadows station, until the eventual extension of the rail line to Aldinga some years in the future,” the report stated.

Mr Sutcliffe said the transport corridor through to Pedler Creek had been reserved, “so it all boiled down to funding”.

In an emailed response, Transport Department spokesman Sam Ion wrote a third station at Seaford Heights was “not part of the current project scope”.

“A decision on that station will depend on funding for a further extension to Aldinga,” Mr Ion wrote.

Seaford District Residents’ Association chairman Ron Jenkins said the area was “growing a bit too quick” so needed the rail extension.

Southern Times Messenger

Seaford Shopping Centre manager Brian Wadham said the extension would encourage more people to travel by train further south and could make Seaford “a real tourist area”.

“We see ourselves as an important part of the Fleurieu Peninsula,” he said.

“In summer we get lots of tourists coming down this way and when the trains are running they could take a day trip to the area, visit the shopping centre and go on to Moana.”

Seaford Gourmet Meats manager Corey Arbon said the extension would be “very good for business”. “Hopefully it will encourage more people to come and shop at the centre,” he said. “I think it’s going to be especially good with all the houses going up around here.”

Wendy’s manager Ken Green: “It will bring in more new customers. When I heard the news I threw my fists in the air.”

BB’s Cafe owner Brenton Tilbrook: “It’s going to mean more customers and more business.”

Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism manager Roz Becker said the rail extension would definitely “help increase visitors to the region”.

“Accessibility is always an issue for regions overall and having direct accessibility will naturally make it easier for people who might have limited transport, or who are coming from Adelaide or the airport,” she said.

“Moana in itself is an attraction, as well as the other coastal regions, so it’s definitely great to see.”

Seaford resident Lisa Ransom, 15, said the extension would also make visiting friends in the north a lot easier.

“Instead of having to catch a bus from here to Noarlunga and then a train to the city, it will be one simple trip.”

Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said the extension would have social, economic and environmental benefits.

“A more efficient public transport system will assist people travelling within the area and into the city for work, shopping and recreation and make Onkaparinga more attractive for businesses and job-seekers,” she said.

Southern Times Messenger