Quandamooka community members have lodged an application with the federal environment minister Sussan Ley, in a bid to stop a development on Queensland's North Stradbroke Island.
Eight Quandamooka Elders made the application to Minister Ley, asking for an emergency declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
The planned development, a whale interpretive centre, is to be built on the headland of Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island, and will house a 15 metre whale skeleton.
Since February, a group has been camped on the headland, setting up the Quandamooka Truth Embassy just days before construction was meant to begin.
Goenpul woman Pekeri Ruska is one of the people behind the embassy, she said she wants the area permanently protected.
"The reason we've tried so long and are continuing to try and protect the headland is it's part of a significant Aboriginal landscape," she said.
"It has a number of sacred sites in the space for both our men and our women and to build anything in this space, especially something like a whale interpretive centre causes harm."
For Ms Ruska, the headland is rich in cultural heritage, and an important part of the history of her people, one she wants to continue to pass down.
The Quandamooka Truth Embassy when it was first set up in February. Source: Quandamooka Truth Embassy
"Building on the headland impacts the way we relate to that place and it impacts those stories whether tangible or intangible," she said.
"For me what it's about is being able to have that space for my daughter and my nieces and nephews and the future generations to understand and connect with that place in the way in which I have been blessed to be able to..."
The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) is one of the project partners behind the whale interpretive centre.
On their website they describe the development as an "exhibit and research pod that will share Quandamooka stories, values and history with visitors and residents at Mulumba (Point Lookout)".
QYAC has been contacted for comment.
Ms Ruska has been part of a campaign to stop the development since 2018.
She said she would like to see no development on the headland.
"What we really want to see is those project partners acknowledge the significance that place has and come to the table and say that the build isn't going to go ahead,"Ms Ruska said.
"We want them to acknowledge that there is intangible cultural heritage and it is just as important as tangible cultural heritage and therefore, the build won't happen.
"If they really want to spend money on the island, there are so many other areas in which that money could be prioritised.
"Ultimately no whale bones, no buildings."
