Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre - Survival
Petitioner:
Ms Venessa Starzynski
| Member:
Doyle, Trish
| No. of Signatories:
630
| Date closed:
05/05/2022
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
This petition of the residents of the Blue Mountains and New South Wales brings to the attention of the House that the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre (BMACRC), an Aboriginal Community operated organisation in Katoomba NSW is currently under threat of eviction by the NSW Minister of Department of Communities and Justice. BMACRC is constituted by traditional owners, Dharug and Gundungurra Peoples and provides critical support to children, families and Aged Care - Elders on behalf of NSW and Commonwealth Governments. Considering the commitment made by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to Implement a Plan to address the Commonwealth Government Close the Gap targets for Aboriginal people in NSW, the undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to ensure that BMACRC has the following:
1. A permanent, secure, culturally safe premises for BMACRC to operate in perpetuity, preferably at its current site ‘Clairvaux’, Katoomba,
2. Financial security in terms of adequate program funding and site management costs,
3. Room for BMACRC to adequately perform existing community support programs (at no less than the current space) and additional space to optimally perform current community support programs,
4. Co-operative working relationships with Government to achieve shared goals in addressing disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People by strengthening capacity and abilities of BMCARC, and
5. Ongoing support from NSW Government for BMACRC to continue to lead business and culture in support and leadership of ASTI community of the Blue Mountains.
