Aboriginal Heritage is protected in Victoria under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007. Goulburn-Murray Water has an obligation to ensure that private works licence applicants are made aware of their obligations under this legislation.
What is a Cultural Heritage Management Plan?
A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) is a written report, containing an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed activity on Aboriginal cultural heritage. It outlines measures to be taken before, during and after an activity in order to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in the activity area.
A CHMP is a way of protecting and managing Aboriginal cultural heritage while allowing development to proceed.
It’s illegal to knowingly damage cultural heritage or not complete a CHMP when it’s required under the relevant legislation.
When is a CHMP required?
A CHMP is mandatory when all or part of the activity is in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity and the activity is high impact, and no exemptions apply.
Areas of cultural heritage sensitivity include land within 50 metres of registered cultural heritage places, land within 200 metres of waterways and other locations defined in the Regulations.
An online map of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity can be found at the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register and Information System website.
The installation of new pumps and/or attached pipelines normally occur on or near a waterway, so it is likely these works will be located in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity.
Installation of new pumps and/or pipelines will often be classified as a utility installation in the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007.
Utility installations are classified as high impact if any of the following apply:
- affect an area exceeding 25 square metres; or
- a pipeline exceeding 500 metres in length; or
- a pipeline exceeding 100 metres in length with a diameter above 150 millimetres.
More information on other high impact activities can be found in the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007.
You can use the online Cultural Heritage Planning Tool to determine if your proposed activity will require a CHMP.
The following definitions apply when using the Cultural Heritage Planning Tool:
- Significant Ground Disturbance – the disturbance of topsoil by machinery by at least 60 centimetres in the course of grading, excavating, digging, dredging or deep ripping. Note that it does not include ploughing (other than deep ripping); therefore ploughing a paddock less than 60 centimetres does not constitute significant ground disturbance.
- Minor Works – fences or freestanding walls; temporary seating structures, stages or platforms; works on, over or under an existing roadway or existing rail infrastructure; maintenance or repair works or the removal of works associated with an existing high impact activity; and other minor works associated with an existing high impact activity.
Who can complete a CHMP?
Heritage Advisors can complete CHMPs.
A list of Heritage Advisors can be found on the First Peoples website.
Heritage Advisors can also advise applicants when a CHMP is required and write a short report providing their advice that can be used in a planning application.
What is involved in a CHMP?
The sections of a CHMP are listed below:
- Activity Description and Activity Area – describes and maps the area affected by the proposed works.
- Desktop Assessment – collating what is already known from past archaeological reports and what has previously been found in the area.
- Standard Assessment – involves an above-ground field survey to discover the likelihood of finding cultural heritage artefacts.
- Complex Assessment – excavation to discover cultural heritage artefacts.
- Conditions – outlines measures to be taken before, during and after an activity in order to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in the activity area.
- Contingencies – sets out what to do in the event that further cultural heritage artefacts are located during the proposed activity. Not all cultural heritage artefacts can be uncovered during assessment process.
What will it cost?
The cost of CHMP will vary depending on the size and complexity of the cultural heritage assessment and the Heritage Adviser used. It is a good idea to compare multiple quotes for cultural heritage advice.
If you do not have access to the internet, please contact GMW on 1800 013 357 to find the Diversions team in your area for further assistance.
Disclaimer:
The information contained on this fact sheet is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. It is provided for information purposes only and is not advice.
You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a cultural heritage adviser.
Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this factsheet, GMW, its officers, employees and agents disclaim all liability (except for any liability which by law cannot be excluded), for any error, inaccuracy in, or omission from the information contained on this factsheet or any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.
The information on websites listed in this fact sheet is provided on the basis that all persons accessing the site undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
Websites listed in this fact sheet provides links to other websites. These external information sources are outside GMW’s control. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency reliability and correctness of the information found. GMW does not endorse any company or organisation linked to from this site.
GMW reference: A2994211