In consultation with the Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the Kyogle Council Aboriginal Community Advisory Committee, the 2012 Shire Wide Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Mapping Project is now published. The project was completed in 2012, and the specific aims of the project were:
- To develop an effective working relationship with the local Aboriginal community groups and Land Councils.
- To identify and assess the significance of known, and potential, Aboriginal cultural heritage which may be located within the Kyogle Shire area, potentially impacted by future development.
- To develop ACH identification, appropriate and acceptable to the Aboriginal community and formatted in a manner for inclusion in the Kyogle LEP.
How does Council use the maps?
- Any land owner proposing an activity that may be in the vicinity of a mapped site, will be able to identify at an early stage any potential for impact, and either avoid the site, or consult the LALC further in relation to the potential for impact.
- Where development that requires Council approval is proposed on land near a mapped site, applicants will be advised to contact the relevant LALC prior to lodging their application. They will be required to obtain more information from the LALC about the values of the site, and how development may or may not impact on this, and design their proposal accordingly.
How do people engage with LALCs to obtain more information?
- Council will refer applicants to the relevant LALC where a development is proposed that is near a mapped site. The process for the LALC in dealing with those referrals is up to individual LALCs to decide. LALCs can charge a fee for site investigations, reports, or letters of advice.
https://alc.org.au/land-council-map/
The summary report and mapping have been compiled in such a way as to not include any detailed or sensitive information about any of the sites. In all instances, people will need to go to the LALC to get further information on any of the sites in the LALC area. The LALCs can charge a fee for providing such information where they choose. Updates to the mapping can be made periodically if additional sites are identified by any of the LALCs that meet the required criteria.
Some of the other benefits of the publication of this information are;
- it sets a foundation for a partnership between Council and the LALCs
- provides a valuable reference for each of the LALCs to further investigate the sites in their areas
- will hopefully lead to further funding opportunities to record and compile Aboriginal cultural heritage information
Click here to download the 2012 Shire Wide Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Mapping Project.
