Aboriginal campsite at Nanny Goat Hill to be closed down & residents relocated (A/Min)

31/8/99
Acting Aboriginal Affairs Minister Paul Omodei said today that the notorious Nanny Goat Hill Aboriginal campsite, near Kalgoorlie, will be closed down and the camp residents and infrastructure relocated.
Mr Omodei said the move was for the safety of the Nanny Goat Hill people, after substantial ground subsidence in the area had caused concerns as well as the poor condition of the campsite.
"The subsidence is due to old gold workings dating back to the turn of the century," he said.
"It poses a significant safety risk to the residents and visitors to the camp.
"The camp residents will be relocated to the Zone 6 Aboriginal Communities Facility, at South Boulder, which was recently established through resources provided by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Aboriginal Affairs Department (AAD), the Ministry of Housing and Safer WA."
The Minister said that Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, which owned Nanny Goat Hill, would be securing and re-vegetating the area, and fencing off areas affected by ground subsidence.
The camp residents were working with the Aboriginal Affairs Department, the Ministry of Housing, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines to ensure a smooth transition to the South Boulder Facility.
Mr Omodei said he hoped the process would be completed within two weeks.
Media contacts: Caroline Lacy on 9222 9699
AAD: Ken Suttie on 9235 8067