Thousands of years of sacred Aboriginal history could be paved over during multi-billion-dollar Great Western Highway upgrades in New South Wales.
The state and commonwealth governments have unveiled plans to spend $4.5 billion to upgrade the stretch between Katoomba and Lithgow, west of Sydney. The resulting roadworks would reduce travel time from about 40 to 29 minutes.
First Nations leaders are concerned the landscape will be irreversibly damaged as the current plans will have a "direct" or "indirect" impact on 29 Aboriginal sites, seven which are deemed as being of "high significance".
The highway cuts through the rugged terrain of the New South Wales' Blue Mountains eucalypt forests and provides a major freight route from Sydney to western NSW.
Long before European settlers built a road through the Hartley Valley, it was where the Gundungurra, Darug and Wiradjuri people shared culture and trade.
According to Transport for New South Wales' (TfNSW) own Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report the "entire area within the project is significant to Aboriginal people", but has labelled the works as being of "national importance".
Sacrificing Aboriginal history
Members of the Wiradjuri community are concerned over a 14-kilometre stretch between Little Hartley and Lithgow, which is slated to become a four-lane highway.
The proposed works would weave in and out of the existing road, pushing through previously untouched land.
Wiradjuri man Adrian Williams was involved in archaeological digs in the Hartley Valley.
"We don't have that many sites spare to just go 'it's okay to destroy some Aboriginal history'," Mr Williams said.
One site under threat is a sacred possum skin dreaming area on River Lett Hill.
Tradition states that a skin was to be given to a newborn to welcome them to the world.
Throughout that person's life, more skins were added, with the original skin eventually buried in the cloak.
"Sites like this we use as libraries to teach the next generation of caretakers," Mr Williams said.
The opposite of 'progress'
If the current plans for the section proceed, the site would be destroyed.
"If there's a road put through here, are we going to have to sit in the middle of a median strip to teach the kids that?" Mr Williams said.
He said a proper negotiation would see them keep at least half of the at-risk areas.
Aunty Helen Riley is an Elder on the board of the Mingaan Wiradjari Aboriginal Corporation.
A fire hearth, believed to be up to 5,000 years old, would also be destroyed by the road.
She said sacred men's and women's places would also be "lost forever".
"I'm not against progress. You can't stop progress, but they're going about it the wrong way," Aunty Helen said.
The group has drawn up an alternative route further north, which avoid the sites.
Digging up the past
A team of archaeologists and registered Aboriginal parties conducted preliminary digs last year.
It included native title claimants and four local Aboriginal land councils.
Mingaan Wiradjari Aboriginal Corporation said it was not invited to take part in the digs, despite being the traditional owners of the land and having knowledge of the area.
During the digs the team unearthed about 3,000 artefacts, some of which have been sent to the University of Wollongong for analysis.
The ABC understands members of the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council, employed by TfNSW to assist with the digs, are in discussions to re-design the stretch between Little Hartley and Lithgow.
The Lithgow City Council also wants works on the section halted until all other options are considered.
In a statement to the ABC, TfNSW's director west Alistair Lunn said it was "very sensitive to the cultural heritage of the many Aboriginal peoples who have links to the Blue Mountains and Hartley Valley".
He said the department was following cultural heritage consultation procedures and that during construction Aboriginal heritage sites would be fenced.
"The project is currently exploring all suggestions and options for further mitigating environmental and cultural impacts," Mr Lunn said.
In a statement, the Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Sam Farraway said upgrades would ensure "the mountains and regional NSW can grow and prosper for years to come".
He said 34 local knowledge holders are helping the government ensure all discoveries are handled appropriately.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts, and the Minister for Environment James Griffin were unavailable for an interview.
