TAS:Feds should fix bypass standoff: Wilkie

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2010
TAS:Feds should fix bypass standoff: Wilkie

HOBART, Aug 10 AAP - The federal government should intervene to protect an Aboriginal
heritage site threatened by the building of a new road north of Hobart, Independent candidate
Andrew Wilkie says.

A state government commissioned report found evidence of Aboriginal inhabitants at
the Jordan River levee site from around 40,000 years ago.

The report said the site was of "extremely high scientific significance".

The site is threatened by the building of the Brighton Bypass, but the Tasmanian government
has refused to put the road on an alternate path around the site.

Independent candidate for Denison Andrew Wilkie said it was time for the federal government
to step in.

"The resolution of the impasse would appear to be in the Federal Government moving
quickly to protect the site, by adding it to the National Heritage List, and by funding
a sensible adjustment of the plan for the road," Mr Wilkie said on Tuesday.

"Such an intervention would protect the Jordan River levee site and allow for the Brighton
bypass to proceed."

AAP pbc/scj

KEYWORD: BYPASS

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