Wagga Solar Farm in NSW's Riverina has been fined $1500 after destroying priceless Aboriginal artefacts, some of which were stone tools and axes dating back thousands of years.
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Wiradjuri man Mark Saddler said the fine was insultingly small, saying it was a paltry price to pay for such a "despicable" act of cultural vandalism.
The solar farm is a $180 million project being developed by Metka EGN, a multinational company based in London.
Mr Saddler was one of the Aboriginal "knowledge holders" who were consulted prior to development, but says their report was treated as a "box-ticking" exercise that was ignored by the developers.
"This mob's come in, they were given many documents and instructions relating to the area, and completely disrespected our land, items and people. They also disrespected government law and rules and only got smacked with a $1500 penalty," Mr Saddler said.
"The fine is no good and it doesn't discourage other companies, councils, or individuals from coming and doing exactly the same thing."
Mr Saddler received an apology from the developers Metka EGN, but says that "sorry isn't good enough" and is pushing for tougher penalties.
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He said that particular plot of land held profound historical significance to the Wiradjuri people, who have created stone tools in that area for millennia.
The area now known as Bomen was also used as an emu farm and camping ground, with traces of ancient campfires still buried deep down in the clay below.
"If this were anywhere else in the world it'd be a world heritage site," Mr Saddler said.
"This fine of $1500 is a joke. Once our places and items are destroyed, they are gone forever. The penalty needs to relevant to the cultural vandalism that has been done here."
The Aboriginal community are planning to give the artefacts a proper reburial and smoking ceremony once they are registered with the government.
Until then, they have been left in the care of a "trusted" archaeologist.
Metka EGN's Australian director Ian Kirkham said it had not been done deliberately, and that they had reported themselves to the government once the permit violation had become known.
"At no time has Metka EGN knowingly or intentionally harmed Aboriginal objects," Mr Kirkham said.
"Metka EGN takes its cultural heritage compliance obligations very seriously and continues to improve its processes and training in this regard."
The Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment said Metka EGN had breached its Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit.
However, documents obtained by Mr Saddler show that Metka had harmed more Aboriginal objects even prior to obtaining the proper permit.
The solar farm borders the property of Eunony Valley farmer John Gray, who has staunchly opposed the farm from day one.
He said local farmers had also been ignored by the developers, and that this latest penalty was "not even a slap on the wrist" to the multinational corporation.
"If we are serious about Aboriginal artefacts, then to fine a company of that size $1500 for completely disobeying and disregarding their instructions - to my mind it's absolutely ludicrous," Mr Gray said.
"It's a blight on the agricultural land around us. Most people would be horrified about what's happened out here."
The Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment were contacted for comment.