Case study
Trees of cultural significance – scar trees – are relocated from Dawson mine’s lease area Three trees of cultural heritage significance were removed by Dawson mine in July 2009, in consultation with traditional owner groups Palm Tree Wutaru and Toby Gangulu.
The trees were situated in the planned mining path for Dawson South operations; all trees had been dead for many years, so only the scarred sections were removed and relocated to an alternative keeping place.
Dawson mine Environmental Officer Layla Tucker said these works are a part of ensuring cultural heritage artefacts are managed to fully meet the commitments under the ongoing Cultural Heritage and Investigation Management Agreement (CHIMA) with the Gangulu Traditional Owner groups.
Scar trees can be significant to traditional owners’ groups for a variety of reasons, such as:
- A special keeping place for remains of deceased significant members of the local tribe; and
- Utilitarian purposes, such as stripping the bark to make canoes or small wooden containers
The trees have been placed in storage until a respectful display place can be located.
Capcoal mine has also previously worked with traditional owners to relocate scar trees found within the mine lease area. The relocated trees are now displayed at the car park entrance point at the main administration building.