save the Blue Tier
lake cowal
Gloria Andrews lighting the symbolic fire indoors on 20th May as it was raining heavily at Lottah at midday.
national day of action to save lake cowal - l. nicklason
Lake Cowal is the largest inland lake and wetlands in NSW.
Home and breeding ground to hundreds of species of birds,
amphibians, reptiles and mammals, Lake Cowal is listed on the
Australian Register of the National Estate and Directory of
Important Wetlands.
Lake Cowal is currently under threat
from a proposed open pit, cyanide leaching gold mine. Canadian
mining giant Barrick Gold is set to begin mine construction.
A spill of wastewater containing cyanide, arsenic and potentially
other toxins could severely damage the entire Cowal Wetland and
related waterways including the Lachlan and Murray River systems
and groundwater.
Lake Cowal is the sacred heartland of the Wiradjuri Nation. To develop a gold mine here would mean the destruction of this sacred site. Aboriginal people have been here for many many thousands of years.
A permanent camp, the Lake Cowal Tent Embassy, has been set up to stop the mine. A sacred fire has been burning ..... today a fire was lit at the Lottah camp by Gloria Andrews as part of a National Day of Action to support the Wiradjuri people. Gloria lit the fire and placed in it ashes from the Lake Cowal sacred fire. It was a beautiful, moving ceremony and we felt very privileged to have been part of it.
Thanks Gloria.
2004/05/20