“The progress association in Bulahdelah is using some local Aboriginal people to benefit its own cause,” she said.

“People should not be using cultural heritage issues that way.”

Ms Oxley was furious at the suggestion she is a pawn.

“Well, the RTA has a focus group of Aboriginal people and from what I’ve read, it’s using them to push its own agenda,” she said.

“I will not have a woman like Bev Manton speaking for my culture, especially with so much at stake.”

She said the highway should be rerouted west of Bulahdelah, avoiding the mountain.

“If they took the western side, they were told by their own experts it would be a cheaper way, but it seems the RTA is fixed on desecrating sites up and down the coast.”

Asked why it had preferred the option of cutting through the mountain over building west of Bulahdelah, and what conclusions had been reached through costing estimates, the RTA media unit replied only that “The preferred route to the east of Bulahdelah represents the best possible balance across a range of competing needs”.

The mountain committee’s submission thrusts the road’s short-term future into the hands of Federal Environment and Heritage Minister Peter Garrett. Mr Garrett can block the RTA’s plans, but will first hold talks with NSW Roads Minister John Daley, and study a report by an independent legal expert into the indigenous claims.

The RTA spokesperson said early works have started south of the Myall River, but the upgrade is not due to start until 2009. Mr Garrett is due to receive the independent report before building starts, which leaves open the possibility of the bypass going ahead on schedule.

Clarification

LAST week’s front page story titled Race to Stop Highway contained an error.

It quoted from a document, an application for the protection of ‘The Alum’ Sacred Mountain, Bulahdelah. That document stated The Alum Mountain and its immediate natural and cultural Aboriginal surrounding environment is particularly significant to the Bundjalung Nation.

This was incorrect information in the application.

A public notice has since been published rectifying this error, stating it should have read “The applicant, a member of the Worimi people”.

Pacific Highway upgrade at Bulahdelah

What’s planned

o Around 8.6 kilometres of new four-lane dual carriageway, cutting through the foot of Mt Alum.

o A connection of the already upgraded Bulahdelah-to-Cooloongolook slice of the highway to the planned Karuah-to-Bulahdelah section.

o New major interchanges to the south and north of Bulahdelah.

Early works have started south of the Myall River, as the first stage of road embankment in the area. Work on the Bulahdelah bypass is not scheduled until 2009.