In a joint statement with Yorta Yorta National Aboriginal Corporation, council said future decisions for Victoria Park would only be made once the cultural heritage assessments on that material had been completed.
Council could not confirm the details of the material “out of respect”.
As a result, all project works at the site have been ceased until council is sure of the conditions that may now be applied to the project.
Previously, only the site where the initial remains were found had been closed.
The construction timeline of Victoria Park is now unclear.
Despite earlier assessments suggesting minimal risk of cultural heritage discoveries, council chief executive Pauline Gordon emphasised that protecting cultural heritage extended far beyond mere regulatory compliance.
“The discovery of ancestral remains at the Victoria Park site is a profound reminder that the land we live, work and gather on carries stories and significance far older than our own,” she said.
“As a council, we recognise our responsibility to approach work on Yorta Yorta Country with humility, care and deep respect.
“We thank the community for their patience as we work through this sensitive and complex process together, guided by partnership, transparency and respect for generations past, present and future.”
The Victoria Park upgrades are slated for completion by December 2026 and include the construction of a multi-purpose building, including community spaces, amenities, and landscaping improvements.
Council has been working in consultation with Yorta Yorta Nation to ensure appropriate cultural oversight and decision-making for the Victoria Park upgrades moving forward.
Yorta Yorta Nation chief executive John Kerr said this discovery served as a reminder that all gathering places existed within landscapes that had held deep cultural meaning for thousands of years.
“By listening, learning and working together, we can continue to move forward in a way that honours the past while supporting a respectful future for the Echuca community,” he said.
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