Historic Heritage Assessments
Aboriginal heritage cultural report
The EIA recognizes the aboriginal heritage culture associated with land used for the construction of the snowy 2.0 project. The project area is located in the Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) and the total assessment measures 8,185.8 hectares. Therefore, New South Wales (NSW) Archaeology Pty Ltd has been engaged by Snowy Hydro Limited to conduct an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment of the project for inclusion in the EIS.
The assessment has been conducted in accordance with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW DPIE) Guide to investigating, assessing, and reporting on Aboriginal cultural heritage in NSW and Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales. Moreover, consultation with aboriginal communities took place in accordance with the NWS DPIE Aboriginal cultural heritage consultations. In addition, Snowy Hydro has consulted independently with the relevant Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the Northern and Southern Kosciuszko National Park Aboriginal Community Memorandum of Understanding Groups.
These consultation processes occur on the regular and are on-going as the project is being developed.
Results from the surveys and consultations from Aboriginal communities
The proposed land for the construction of the Snowy projects is near the homes and territory of several aboriginal groups who have many cultural and spiritual associations to the natural figures that can be found on these grounds. The following excerpt from the KNP 2006 Plan of Management written by the members of the Kosciuszko Aboriginal Working Group expresses the sentiments of Aboriginal people in regard to the Snowy Mountains:
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Living by natural cycles, the land provides our people with life, ceremony, family lore/law, and resources, such as tools, plant medicine, plant food, waters, fish, animals and insects e.g. the Bogong moth, while the melting of the snow gives life to the many creeks and rivers that flow out of the mountains. There are places of spiritual and physical significance to our people, and we are committed to working in partnership with others to protect, maintain and manage these places
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The surveys displayed a total of 402 units of concern, the majority of which have been subject to a comprehensive field survey. Any area that has yet to be surveyed (due to additions to the project's footprints) will also be taken into consideration for the management and mitigation section of the EIA.
The Murrumbidgee River immediately upstream of the Tantangara Dam wall showing a typical treeless plain. Photo taken during construction of the wall. Source: Steve Brayshaw.
Management and mitigation
The EIS of Aboriginal heritage culture does an exceptional job of listing the surveyed units. However, their management and mitigation strategies involve only conserving and salvaging surveyed units that deem of high value. They do not explain how the values of each artifact are categorized and therefore may be listing something as having a low value, which the aboriginal people may consider of great importance. However, they do recognize the importance of conserving Indigenous Australian culture. As a result of the assessment, the EIA suggested the following list of recommendations for the management and mitigation to all aboriginal artifacts:
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An Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan will be prepared and implemented to guide the process for management and mitigation of impacts to Aboriginal objects.
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Include procedures relating to the conduct of additional archaeological assessment, if required.
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Impacts to ground surfaces should be kept to an absolute minimum.
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For survey units that are assessed to be of higher significance values, impact mitigation measures will be implemented. This includes salvaging in the form of archaeological excavation and archaeological analysis prior to impacts.
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Measures of management will be included for any aboriginal objects that are found during construction.
The Eucumbene River flowing eastward through the Kiandra historic landscape.