A group of First Nations people and supporters have conducted a cultural ceremony at Deebing Creek near Ipswich in a bid to disrupt bulldozers clearing land they say is sacred for a proposed development.
About 50 people attended the protest claiming the land was a former Aboriginal massacre site and contained many unmarked graves.
A number of Indigenous people have been living at the nearby mission for the past three years.
"It's been a peaceful camp the whole time. There's a lot of protecting going on, but we're still seeing the desecration up there, the felling of trees and the rest of it," Daniel Thompson said.
However, Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan, who was on site this morning, said the tree clearing had been halted "for the moment".
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr Thompson said it was an emotional day for Indigenous people who want the cultural site preserved because their ancestors are buried in the bushland, now being dug up for a housing development.
"The problem is all levels of government not acknowledging the past atrocities on the site. The site holds cultural significance before it was turned into a mission and reserve, by basically my ancestors," he said.
On Tuesday the group were given notice by contractors that work was about to begin, and on Wednesday bulldozers moved into the Grampian Drive site and started clearing trees.
"My heart cries for every tree they cut down because they don't understand that they are beings which give us life and sustain us," Deebing Creek protector Kris Bunda said.
"We wish to practice ceremony and we will continue to practice ceremony on this beautiful country because many nations have remains of their family members that still lay calling out to come home," she said.
In 2016, a report commissioned by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships found what appeared to be numerous unmarked burial sites in the cemetery using ground-penetrating radar.
The report said information from the Queensland Heritage Register showed as many as 13 unmarked burials could have occurred in the cemetery.
The protesters have appealed for help from the Federal Government and say the desecration has gone on for far too long.
Stockland has started work on the 252 hectare site which will be developed in stages over a 10 to 15 year period.
The development will eventually comprise around 2,300 homes and will also include 70 hectares of green space.
"Stockland deeply respects the history of the area and has valued the time taken to engage with the Yuggera Ugarapul Peoples (YUP) as the registered traditional owners to ensure that the local cultural heritage values are recognised and respected," a Stockland spokesperson said.
MP removed from parliament
The issue prompted a heated outburst from South Brisbane Greens MP Amy MacMahon who yelled in parliament.
When Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk mentioned the koala as one of the state's emblems Ms MacMahon began yelling that the government was clearing koala habitat at Deebing Creek.
"You want to defend koalas?"
"Koala habitat is being cleared right now at Deebing Creek," Ms MacMahon said
"This is sacred land and koala habitat."
Ms MacMahon was initially warned then asked to leave the chamber for the day for disorderly behaviour.
