No consultation row over surf comp car park permission

The WA government has come under fire for allowing a cultural heritage site to be used as a parking site for the Margaret River Pro surfing competition.

The Karri Karrak organisation has said it has not given the government or the World Surf League permission to use the site.

The Margaret River Pro takes place in Margaret River, 275 kilometres south of Perth and is a part of the WSL tour.

The Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation represents more than 600 Wardandi, Piblemen and Kaneang people in southern WA.

“The Margaret River and its significance is really important to the Wardandi people of the region,” director Chontarle Bellottie told the ABC.

“As a director of the Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation we were devastated about the impact that this could possibly have on our dreaming stories burial sites, particularly when you set some activity up on a site that could be avoided.

“And it can be avoided when we talk and we openly respect that there is an Aboriginal heritage site.”

The organisation said it has told the government a number of times of the issues, although WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch said he had been advised all processes and approvals were followed.