Toodyay Shire fined for breaching Aboriginal heritage laws

The Shire of Toodyay in Western Australia received an $8,000 suspended fine for breaching the Aboriginal Heritage Act. The fine is suspended for 12 months after the shire failed to obtain approval for repairs on culturally significant land. The court found that the shire disrupted a local mythological figure, the Waugul, during emergency repairs to river crossings in February 2023. Originally facing ten charges, the shire pleaded guilty to four after six were dropped. The shire's legal representative stated that staff turnover led to increased training on heritage requirements. Meanwhile, charges against one contractor were dropped, while another contractor will face trial for not guilty pleas on four charges.