Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy, Bridge dispute site in Goolwa, Australia
The Hindmarsh Island Bridge connects the mainland at Goolwa to Hindmarsh Island across the Murray River in South Australia. The structure is a straight roadway that replaced an earlier ferry link and now carries cars between the two shores.
Robert Tickner, the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, imposed a 25-year construction ban in 1994 following claims about the sacred nature of the site. The bridge was eventually completed in 2001 after the ban was lifted.
The Ngarrindjeri women declared the bridge location held special significance that could not be disclosed, introducing the concept of secret women's business. This argument brought indigenous knowledge systems into direct contact with Australian legal processes.
The structure is open for regular road traffic and allows a direct drive to the island that was previously accessible only by ferry. You cross it in a few minutes and find parking areas and walking paths along the shore on both sides.
The Federal Court rejected developer damage claims in 2001, acknowledging the potential validity of Aboriginal traditions regarding the bridge location. This decision showed how difficult it can be to evaluate oral and secret traditions in a courtroom setting.
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