c Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT For Macarthur Developments Public Version – Site Locations Removed September 2018 EXTENT HERITAGE / Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report i Document Control Page AUTHOR/HERITAGE ADVISOR: Emma Beckett & Fenella Atkinson CLIENT: Macarthur Developments PROJECT NAME: SYD16178 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct, Camden LGA EXTENT HERITAGE PTY LTD INTERNAL REVIEW/SIGN OFF WRITTEN BY DATE VERSION REVIEWED APPROVED Emma Beckett & Fenella Atkinson 22.9.16 Desktop Alan Williams Fenella Atkinson & Emma Beckett 13.3.16 Draft Alan Williams Fenella Atkinson 30.3.17 Final Draft Alan Williams Fenella Atkinson & Alan Williams 24.4.17 Final Draft Fenella Atkinson 6.12.17 Final Bridget San Miguel 18.09.18 Minor Fenella Atkinson Revisions Copyright and Moral Rights Historical sources and reference materials used in the preparation of this report are acknowledged and referenced in figure captions or in text citations. Reasonable effort has been made to identify, contact, acknowledge and obtain permission to use material from the relevant copyright owners. Unless otherwise specified in the contract terms for this project Extent Heritage Pty Ltd: • Vests copyright of all material produced by Extent Heritage Pty Ltd (but excluding pre-existing material and material in which copyright is held by a third party) in the client for this project (and the client’s successors in title); • Retains the use of all material produced by Extent Heritage Pty Ltd for this project for Extent Heritage Pty Ltd’s ongoing business and for professional presentations, academic papers or publications. EXTENT HERITAGE / Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report ii Executive Summary Extent Heritage Pty Ltd has been commissioned by Macarthur Developments (the proponent), to prepare an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report (ACHAR) for the Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct within the South West Growth Area (hereafter the ‘study area’). The study area has been released for urban development by the Government’s Precinct Acceleration Protocol, which allows for the early release of land for the development of Growth Centres (DPE, 2016). The report has been completed in accordance with the following relevant guidelines: • Guide to Investigating, Assessing and Reporting on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage in NSW (Office of Environment and Heritage [OEH] 2011). • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation Requirements for Proponents 2010 (Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water [DECCW] 2010a). • Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales (DECCW 2010b). • Precinct assessment method for Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Sydney Growth Centres (Context Pty Ltd 2006a). • Protocol for Aboriginal Stakeholder Involvement in the Assessment of Aboriginal Heritage in the Sydney Growth Centres (Context Pty Ltd 2006b). Results The investigation undertaken for the ACHAR has resulted in the identification of an Aboriginal heritage resource that can be discussed according to four overlapping categories: • 22 identified Aboriginal archaeological sites. These generally consist of small artefact distributions and isolated objects found on the ground surface in disturbed areas (where ground surface visibility is high). Most are considered to be of low scientific significance, given the disturbed context, although sites with associated potential archaeological deposit have been assessed as having moderate scientific significance. One culturally scarred tree has also been recorded, and is considered to be of moderate scientific significance. • Zones of medium and high Aboriginal archaeological potential. These areas have been identified based on previous archaeological studies in the region, which indicate that areas in close proximity to water sources have potential for cultural materials. Archaeological sites of higher scientific significance are likely to be located within these zones. • Areas of high cultural value. These areas have been identified tentatively, based on the results of the Aboriginal community consultation undertaken to date, and of previous heritage assessments in the local region. They include relatively undisturbed locations in which one or more archaeological sites are present; and significant landforms such as Lowes Creek, the Maryland ridge and the Birling spur. • Potential contact and post-contact Aboriginal archaeological remains. Aboriginal individuals are known to have been employed by Robert Lowe, the owner of Birling in the 19th Century. Any associated archaeological evidence would be located within the former homestead complex. Although no direct documentary evidence has been found, the history of the local area indicates that Aboriginal people may also have camped on this property, and on nearby Maryland, in the 19th century. There is some potential for the presence of associated Aboriginal (contact and post-contact) archaeological remains in these areas. However, the evidence EXTENT HERITAGE / Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report iii presently available does not suggest that this potential for contact or post-contact cultural materials is any more likely within the wider study area than the general region. Further investigation is required in order to characterise the resource. In particular, the presence of archaeological deposits within the areas of potential has not yet been confirmed. The following additional research is recommended: • Continued Aboriginal community consultation to provide an assessment of the social / spiritual significance of the archaeological resource, and further detail regarding any intangible values. • Archaeological test excavation of the three identified sites that have potential archaeological deposits. • Archaeological test excavation to determine the presence and nature of the archaeological remains within the areas of high and medium archaeological potential. The results of this investigation would provide data for the following: • To allow exploration of avoidance of key sites/deposits and/or minimise impact where possible. • To allow a more detailed impact assessment to be made, and appropriate management measures to be developed. • To provide adequate documentation for an AHIP application, if required. The additional investigation will be undertaken following approval of the ILP, and the results will inform detailed master planning for the study area. Aboriginal community consultation Aboriginal community consultation, in accordance with the OEH guidelines, has resulted in the identification of 19 Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) with an interest in the project. Comments received to date from the RAPs relate to the pre- and post-contact Aboriginal heritage values of the locality and the study area specifically, and to involvement of RAP representatives in the heritage management process. In brief: • Members of some of the RAPs grew up in the area; localities mentioned include Appin, Camden, Liverpool, Bringelly, Airds and Campbelltown. • The area is significant due to the presence of archaeological remains relating to past Aboriginal occupation, and due to continued Aboriginal occupation in the contact and post-contact period. • Archaeological test excavation will be required in order to properly understand the Aboriginal heritage of the study area. • Aboriginal archaeological sites should be protected. • Conservation of Aboriginal sites will require Aboriginal community consultation, and protection from impact of any sort. • If Aboriginal objects are recovered from archaeological investigations, they should be reburied on site close to their original location. • RAP representatives should be involved in all Aboriginal heritage investigation and management works undertaken for the proposed development. • RAP representatives should monitor earthworks. • The watercourses running through the study area should be protected. • The new development should incorporate Aboriginal heritage interpretation, including use of Aboriginal names, and construction of a keeping place and/or exhibition centre. Consultation undertaken by Extent Heritage for an earlier project also identified a concern with the potential presence of contact-period Aboriginal sites within the Maryland property. EXTENT HERITAGE / Lowes Creek Maryland Precinct: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report iv Potential impact Rezoning of the study area will not in itself result in Aboriginal heritage impact. However, the potential heritage impact of development in accordance with the zoning proposed in the Indicative Layout Plan (IILP) has been assessed. A detailed impact assessment will be developed once the recommended further investigation has been completed. It is expected that the recommended investigation and detailed assessment will be undertaken following approval of the ILP and during the master planning phase of the project. • Identified Aboriginal archaeological sites. There is potential for full conservation of 11 of the 22 identified Aboriginal archaeological sites within the study area. The information presently available indicates that redevelopment according to the ILP will result in complete removal of nine of the 22 sites, and partial removal of one more. Proposed zoning that will result in development where impact may be avoided includes passive open space, environmental conservation,