17. Heritage Due Diligence Assessment
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AECOM Project Name Report Title – Report Subtitle Commercial-in-Confidence Appendix L Heritage Due Diligence Assessment C:\Users\tong.cai1\Desktop\Appendix Page.docx Revision 0 – dd-mmm-yyyy Prepared for – Client Name – ABN/Co No.: 000 433 Link Development Pty Ltd 17-Jun-2019 Heritage Due Diligence Assessment Kennedys Creek Solar Farm \\aumel1fp001\Projects\605X\60597829\400_TECH\439_Heritage\Report\20190808_Kennedys Creek (Benalla South) Solar Farm_DRAFT_AECOM Rev.docx Revision 1 – 17-Jun-2019 Prepared for – 433 Link Development Pty Ltd – ABN: 30 626 633 369 AECOM Heritage Due Diligence Assessment Heritage Due Diligence Assessment Kennedys Creek Solar Farm Client: 433 Link Development Pty Ltd ABN: 30 626 633 369 Prepared by AECOM Australia Pty Ltd Level 8, 540 Wickham Street, PO Box 1307, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia T +61 7 3553 2000 F +61 7 3553 2050 www.aecom.com ABN 20 093 846 925 17-Jun-2019 Job No.: 60597829 AECOM in Australia and New Zealand is certified to ISO9001, ISO14001 AS/NZS4801 and OHSAS18001. © AECOM Australia Pty Ltd (AECOM). All rights reserved. AECOM has prepared this document for the sole use of the Client and for a specific purpose, each as expressly stated in the document. No other party should rely on this document without the prior written consent of AECOM. AECOM undertakes no duty, nor accepts any responsibility, to any third party who may rely upon or use this document. This document has been prepared based on the Client’s description of its requirements and AECOM’s experience, having regard to assumptions that AECOM can reasonably be expected to make in accordance with sound professional principles. AECOM may also have relied upon information provided by the Client and other third parties to prepare this document, some of which may not have been verified. Subject to the above conditions, this document may be transmitted, reproduced or disseminated only in its entirety. \\aumel1fp001\Projects\605X\60597829\400_TECH\439_Heritage\Report\20190808_Kennedys Creek (Benalla South) Solar Farm_DRAFT_AECOM Rev.docx Revision 1 – 17-Jun-2019 Prepared for – 433 Link Development Pty Ltd – ABN: 30 626 633 369 AECOM Heritage Due Diligence Assessment Quality Information Document Heritage Due Diligence Assessment Ref 60597829 Date 17-Jun-2019 Prepared by Perri Braithwaite Reviewed by Luke Kirkwood Revision History Authorised Rev Revision Date Details Name/Position Signature 1 04-Dec-2018 Draft Luke Kirkwood Principal Heritage Specialist \\aumel1fp001\Projects\605X\60597829\400_TECH\439_Heritage\Report\20190808_Kennedys Creek (Benalla South) Solar Farm_DRAFT_AECOM Rev.docx Revision 1 – 17-Jun-2019 Prepared for – 433 Link Development Pty Ltd – ABN: 30 626 633 369 AECOM Heritage Due Diligence Assessment Table of Contents Executive Summary i 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Scope 1 1.2 Activity Area 1 1.3 Methodology 1 1.3.1 Limitations 2 2.0 Legislation 1 2.1 Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 1 2.2 Heritage Act 2017 1 3.0 Environmental Context 2 4.0 Historical Background 4 4.1 Aboriginal History 4 4.2 Early European Settlement 5 4.3 Lake Mokoan Scheme 6 5.0 Historical Heritage 1 5.1 Commonwealth Heritage 1 5.2 State Heritage 1 5.2.1 Heritage Victoria 1 5.3 Local Heritage 1 5.4 Other Non-Statutory Registers 1 5.5 Other Heritage Considerations 1 6.0 Aboriginal Heritage 3 6.1 Commonwealth Heritage 3 6.2 State Heritage 3 6.2.1 Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) 3 6.2.2 Areas of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sensitivity 3 6.2.3 Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register (VAHR) 3 6.2.4 Aboriginal Reports 3 7.0 Natural Heritage 1 7.1 Commonwealth Heritage 1 7.2 State Heritage 1 7.3 Local Heritage 1 7.4 Other Non-Statutory Registers 1 7.5 Other considerations 1 8.0 Summary and Recommendations 2 8.1 Recommendations 2 9.0 References 4 \\aumel1fp001\Projects\605X\60597829\400_TECH\439_Heritage\Report\20190808_Kennedys Creek (Benalla South) Solar Farm_DRAFT_AECOM Rev.docx Revision 1 – 17-Jun-2019 Prepared for – 433 Link Development Pty Ltd – ABN: 30 626 633 369 AECOM Heritage Due Diligence Assessment i Executive Summary AECOM Australia Pty Ltd (AECOM) was engaged by 433 Link Development Pty Ltd (South Energy), to prepare a cultural heritage due diligence for the Kennedys Creek Solar Farm (the Project). The Project is located north east of Benalla bounded Murray Road, Nelson Road, Benalla-Yarrawonga Road and the Winton Wetlands (previously referred to as Lake Mokoan and Mokoan) (the Activity Area) (Figure 1). This due diligence assessment seeks to identify Aboriginal, historical and natural heritage values that may be present in the Activity Area, and potential Project impacts on these values. The objective of this assessment is to identify historical, Aboriginal and natural heritage values that may be present in the Activity Area, and potential impacts on these values. Historical Heritage • There are no registered historical heritage items identified within the Activity Area. • A review of historical documents and aerials identified that the Benalla region was subject to the rapid growth of the pastoral and agricultural activities. The Winton Wetlands in particular, appealed to many settlers due to direct access to water for irrigation and pastoral activities. There is potential for historical archaeological remains associated with early pastoral activities such as stockyards, fencing, sheds, and homesteads. An unexpected finds procedure should be implemented in the event of identifying historical heritage during ground disturbing works. • A review of a 1941 historical aerial identified numerous structures potentially associated with the increasing pastoral and homestead sites, one of which is located within the current Activity Area. The age of this structure is unknown but may be of heritage value. Likewise, if this structure is of a certain age (over 75 years), then archaeological deposits associated with the structure (household dumps etc.) may be considered for the protection under the Heritage Act. A heritage assessment should be undertaken for the structure identified in the historical aerials, should any impacts be proposed. Aboriginal Heritage • There are no areas of cultural heritage sensitivity identified within the Activity Area. • There are no registered Aboriginal cultural heritage sites within the Activity Area however; the Activity Area is in close proximity to a highly sensitive cultural landform represented archaeologically through the distribution of Aboriginal sites surrounding the Winton Wetlands. Given the rich archaeological record surrounding the Winton Wetlands and similar landforms within the Activity Area, there is a potential for Aboriginal archaeological remains and intangible values to be present within the Activity Area, there is a potential for Aboriginal archaeological remains and intangible cultural values to be present within the Activity Area. • It is not mandatory to undertake a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) because sensitive landforms (i.e. sensitive waterways identified under the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018) are not within the Activity Area. However, given the spatial relationship of artefacts and landforms surrounding the wetlands, AECOM recommends a Voluntary CHMP be considered. If it is determined that a Voluntary CHMP is not required, an unexpected finds procedure should be implemented in the event of identifying Aboriginal heritage during grounds disturbing works. • An unexpected finds procedure should be implemented in the unlikely event of identifying Aboriginal heritage during ground disturbing works. Natural Heritage • There are no registered natural heritage items identified within the Activity Area. • The Activity Area is within close proximity to a highly sensitive ecological landform, the Winton Wetlands, and is considered of general importance as a significant environmental, social and economic renewal projects. \\aumel1fp001\Projects\605X\60597829\400_TECH\439_Heritage\Report\20190808_Kennedys Creek (Benalla South) Solar Farm_DRAFT_AECOM Rev.docx Revision 1 – 17-Jun-2019 Prepared for – 433 Link Development Pty Ltd – ABN: 30 626 633 369 AECOM Heritage Due Diligence Assessment ii • The Winton Wetland Committee of Management should be consulted with to ensure works do not impact on any environmental value. \\aumel1fp001\Projects\605X\60597829\400_TECH\439_Heritage\Report\20190808_Kennedys Creek (Benalla South) Solar Farm_DRAFT_AECOM Rev.docx Revision 1 – 17-Jun-2019 Prepared for – 433 Link Development Pty Ltd – ABN: 30 626 633 369 AECOM Heritage Due Diligence Assessment 1 1.0 Introduction AECOM Australia Pty Ltd (AECOM) was engaged by 433 Link Development Pty Ltd (South Energy), to prepare a cultural heritage due diligence for the Kennedys Creek Solar Farm (the Project). The Project is located north east of Benalla bounded Murray Road, Nelson Road, Benalla-Yarrawonga Road and the Winton Wetlands (previously referred to as Lake Mokoan and Mokoan) (the Activity Area) (Figure 1). This due diligence assessment seeks to identify Aboriginal, historical and natural heritage values that may be present in the Activity Area, and potential Project impacts on these values. The objective of this assessment is to identify historical, Aboriginal and natural heritage values that may be present in the Activity Area, and potential impacts on these values. 1.1 Scope The objectives of this assessment are to: • Conduct a brief historical review of the Activity Area and the surrounding areas. • Identify any known Aboriginal, historical and natural heritage values in the Activity Area. • Identify