A core group of protesters calling themselves “the protectors” have been living at the site near Ipswich in an effort they say will stop the desecration of sacred land.

Queensland police moved in at dawn at the request of developers AVJennings and Moremac.

“Local police have engaged and liaised with all interested parties, including traditional owners of the land who are also on-site,” police said in a statement on Tuesday.

“One person has been arrested in relation to an unrelated matter.”

AVJennings said the decision to bring in police had not been taken lightly, and “followed more than three years of liaison and communication with various groups to address their concerns”.

“These groups trespassing on the Deebing Springs site do not represent the traditional owners,” the developer said in a statement.

“The traditional owners are the Yuggera Ugarapul people, who are supportive of the proposed residential project.”

The controversial development site is south of central Ipswich at the Deebing Creek Mission, which operated between 1887 and 1915 before relocating to nearby Purga.

It is believed to be where a group of schoolchildren and a teacher were massacred in the late 1890s.

“We cannot believe it has come to this, that we have been forcibly removed from country,” Deebing Creek Protector Kris Bunda said.

“We are here to protect this country, the culture and the bones.”

Several developments are proposed for the land but the protectors say their cultural duty is to safeguard songlines, birthing trees, artefacts and other culturally significant items.

A development application for a proposed childcare centre at Grampian Drive was met with widespread community backlash over the history of the nearby former Aboriginal mission and burial grounds.

Ipswich City Council has referred the development application back to the state government.

Mayor Teresa Harding said the move reflected sensitivities around this development in some community sections.

“There are two Indigenous groups who both have different accounts of the cultural history of this site, making it extremely difficult for council to navigate this complex issue,” Ms Harding said.

“Councillors have engaged with both groups to hear all views on this application and to better understand the cultural heritage matters that exist in and around the development site.”

AVJennings said the development proposals, which were approved by Ipswich City Council in 2008, had been designed in accordance with expert ecological advice and state, federal and local laws.

“AVJennings’ right to exercise its obligations under the approvals has been prevented by parties camping and residing illegally on the site,” it said.

Construction company Stockland has proposed a separate housing estate at Deebing Heights after reaching an agreement in March with the Yuggera Ugarapul people.