The Djungan native title holders of Mt Mulligan near Dimbulah have found another champion in their quest to prevent coal seam gas mining near the iconic, spiritual landmark.
Greens Senator Larissa Waters has vowed to redouble her efforts at a state and federal level to stop any mining activities in the area after touring the Mt Mulligan site on Tuesday.
An application from a Brisbane company to explore for gas under the Petroleum and Gas Act 2004 is sitting on the desk of Mines Minister Andrew Cripps awaiting approval.
“Anyone wanting to mine in this area is just greedy. We can’t risk harming the water catchment for all downstream users,” Senator Waters said.
“I will work with all stakeholders to ensure this area is left alone because of its high heritage value and its spiritual significance to the local Djungan people.”
Tour guide ‘Judulu’ of Yarrabah said the Djungan people had to protect Nguddaboolgan (Mt Mulligan) because of its unique spirituality for his people.
“If it is mined or destroyed it would be spiritual genocide of the Djungan.
“This is after all the first mining site in the state to have a protest against mining by Aborigines in the early 1920’s,” Judulu said.
Judulu and Senator Waters look over the Mt Mulligan site, 16oklm NW of Cairns.
M. Mulligan or Woothakata as it was known by the gold miners and early pioneers. The cave on top of the mountain was the subject of an archeological investigation carried out by M.J. Moorwood one of Australia’s formost archeologists for the ANU who went down to bedrock and concluded that the Indigenous people had used the cave for at least 39,000. years. Mt. Mulligan is also known as Ngarrabullgan, Two relevant books: The Prehistory of Australia, John Mulvaney and Quincan Prehistory – Tempus 3 – UQ.