Aboriginal Heritage Issues
The Brighton Bypass remains controversial because of the Tasmanian government's refusal to properly investigate the proposed road corridor for Aboriginal sites prior to construction. In September 2009 local Aboriginals conducted a protest at the Jordan River crossing of the proposed road, stating that construction would destroy an Aboriginal site of potential world significance. Over the next few days, twenty protesters were arrested while attempting to halt work on the bypass. Local Aboriginal activist Michael Mansell called for the bypass to be scrapped stating that to continue would be cultural vandalism on an extreme scale. In February 2010, the aboriginal community gave archaeologists permission to excavate the site, after the state government agreed to consult more closely with it about the cultural values of the site.
Read more about this topic: Brighton Bypass
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