Roadmaps to zero harm: A different perspective for cultural heritage management

At the recent Victorian Archaeology Colloquium held at La Trobe university, GML’s Manager of Archaeology (Victoria), Leah Tepper, presented a paper ‘Roadmaps to Zero-Harm Under Section 61 – A Different Perspective’ alongside Billy Bell from the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

In accordance with Section 61 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) must consider whether the activity will be conducted in a way that avoids harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage. However, harm avoidance is rarely considered in development. Too often, emphasis for Sponsors is on the ‘mitigating’ part of Section 61, resulting in harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage and contributing to the significant degree of cumulative impacts.

This approach also leaves Registered Aboriginal Parties in the difficult position of managing damage to Aboriginal cultural heritage, rather than protecting it. Avoidance of harm to cultural heritage is integral in the management of significant cultural places.

A large part in managing cultural heritage is working together in a genuine way – by deep listening, by compromising & being creative, and by valuing different perspectives and understanding why they matter. All of this leads to better outcomes.

A successful example of this approach is the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Portland, Victoria, located on Gunditjmara Country. Led by Pacific Green Australia, with project oversight by Cogency Australia, this initiative involves the development of four battery energy storage parks and an electricity switching station. Renewable energy is seen by the Victorian and Australian governments as critical to Australia’s future, and the key to the success of renewables such as solar & wind are the large battery storage systems required to store the energy for use.

GML undertook the CHMP for the proposed works, in consultation with Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, where it was determined that Aboriginal cultural heritage in the form of stone tools are present in sand deposits across the site.

Pacific Green, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and GML considered the results from each stage in the CHMP process collaboratively, which meant that the impacts from the activity were significantly reduced. Pacific Green then worked closely with Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, to undertake significant design revisions to avoid the most archaeologically sensitive areas of the site. This has meant that the construction of the BESS can go ahead, while also ensuring that harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage has been largely avoided.

By embracing thoughtful design changes and creative problem-solving, the project was able to move forward while significantly reducing its impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage. This approach demonstrates that development and cultural heritage preservation can coexist when careful planning and genuine collaboration are prioritised.