THE Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) says it is working closely with key stakeholders to ensure Aboriginal cultural heritage is respected and protected as the redevelopment of Ormiston College progresses.
The organisation recently completed a cultural heritage assessment of the redevelopment site and has since held discussions with college representatives, the development proponent and local wildlife advocates.
QYAC said the discussions focused on protecting both the cultural and environmental values of the area, including the preservation of important koala habitat.
A QYAC spokesperson said the process demonstrated the benefits of collaboration between Traditional Owners, developers, educators and community stakeholders.
“This genuine collaboration has shown what can be achieved when all parties come together with a genuine willingness to listen, learn, and act,” the spokesperson said.
“Protecting Quandamooka’s cultural heritage is a responsibility we all share.”
QYAC said the engagement had already identified opportunities for future conservation initiatives, restorative landscaping and culturally informed design elements that could be incorporated into the project.
The organisation believes these measures will help ensure the redevelopment avoids impacts on cultural heritage while contributing to the long-term health of the surrounding environment.
“We believe these outcomes will help ensure that the project not only avoids harm to Quandamooka cultural heritage but actively contributes to the long-term health and resilience of the local koala habitat and environment,” the spokesperson said.
QYAC also acknowledged the cooperation of Ormiston College and other stakeholders involved in the discussions and indicated it would continue working with the project team as the redevelopment moves forward.
“As Traditional Owners, QYAC has a responsibility to protect Country, which has high cultural significance to the Quandamooka people,” the spokesperson said.
The redevelopment proposal has attracted wide community interest, particularly regarding its potential impact on koala habitat, with QYAC positioning its involvement as an opportunity to ensure cultural heritage protection and environmental stewardship remain central to the project’s future development.
