![DEBATE: Wiradyuri elders Nyree Reynolds and Dinawan Dyirribang [pictured] feel the proposed McPhillamy's Gold Project [headed by Regis Resources, special projects manager Tony McPaul pictured] could harm land at Kings Plains significant to Indigenous and early colonial history.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xry9xtRQu9u36zRV2j5976/04556eaa-d985-4ab9-b72a-788ebd0c8233.jpg/r0_0_846_476_w576_h298_fmax.webp "DEBATE: Wiradyuri elders Nyree Reynolds and Dinawan Dyirribang [pictured] feel the proposed McPhillamy's Gold Project [headed by Regis Resources, special projects manager Tony McPaul pictured] could harm land at Kings Plains significant to Indigenous and early colonial history.")
Further concerns have been raised around Regis Resources' proposed McPhillamy's Gold Project north of Blayney, with the earmarked site at Kings Plans considered sacred to the local Indigenous population.
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The project, which has been in development since 2013, has been met with debate over the years from the likes of the Belubula Headwaters Protection Group and Goldfields Honey.
And recently, members of the local Wiradyuri community have come to the fore explaining the artefacts collected from a 2019 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment indicate the significance of the site to First Nations peoples.
"Given the assessment was undertaken on a small proportion [15 per cent] of the approx. 6500-acre site, together with the existence of other nearby sites is confirmation that the Kings Plains area was extremely important to Aboriginal people," Wiradyuri elder and artist Nyree Reynolds said.
"The entire cultural landscape of this area is in my soul and in the soul of all Wiradjuri people and the wider community who are here now and have always been."
Wiradyuri elder Dinawan Dyirribang, a direct descendant of Windradyne, said the site held significance to Wiradyuri boys prior to initiation ceremonies.
"The Kings Plains area was the final marshalling area where the boys were gathered before being taken to Wahluu [Mount Panorama] for their initiation ceremony," Dinawan said.
In addition, NSW History Council president Dr Stephen Gapps indicates "it was at Kings Plains where a declaration of war was made by Wiradjuri against the British."
In response, Regis special projects manager Tony McPaul said the heritage assessment found "no state or local government-listed heritage items in the McPhillamys project area."
"Regis works in consultation with indigenous stakeholders to make sure any items of heritage significance are managed and protected, and will continue to do so prior to construction and operations, if the project is approved," Mr McPaul said.
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