EIS MEWF Vol 3 App10a
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Mount Emerald Wind Farm, Herberton Range North Queensland Environmental Impact Statement Volume 3 Appendix 10A Non-Indigenous CH Assessment PR100246 / R72894; Volume 3 – Final November 2014 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Assessment Mt Emerald Wind Farm Development Springmount - Far North Queensland for Mt Emerald Wind Farm Pty Ltd 10029C/2010 Converge Heritage + Community Pty. Ltd. undertook this assessment. Contact details are: Benjamin Gall Converge Heritage + Community Pty. Ltd. ABN: 71 366 535 889 Level 1, 230 Draper St, Cairns PO Box 2666, Cairns, Qld 4870 Tel: (07) 4031 2355 Fax: (07) 4031 2377 Email: [email protected] © 2014 Copyright This report and the information contained herein, is subject to copyright and may not be copied in whole or in part without the written consent of the copyright holders DOCUMENT VERIFICATION Converge Project: SPRINGMOUNT – Mt Emerald Wind Farm Project Number: 10029C Document Title: File location: Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Assessment M;Cairns ProJects/10029C Springmount – Mt Emerald Wind Farm, Springmount, Far North Queensland Mt Emerald Wind Farm/Reporting Verification: Revision Date Nature of revision Prepared by Authorised by 0 30 June 2010 Draft Report for comment Karen Townrow BenJamin Gall 1 15/10/2014 Final KT 2 3 4 Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 3 1.1 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Sites.................................................................... 3 1.2 Significance Assessment for the Study Area ............................................................. 3 1.3 Impact to Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Sites ................................................. 3 1.4 Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Recommendation 1 - Cultural Heritage Management of Unknown Sites ........................... 4 1.4.2 Recommendation 2 – Unexploded Ordnance ............................................................................ 4 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Study Area ........................................................................................................................ 6 2.3 Dates and Duration of the Work ............................................................................... 7 2.4 Personnel .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Nature of the Impact (The Project) ........................................................................... 7 2.6 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Legislation and Searches ............................... 9 2.6.1 World Heritage List .......................................................................................................................... 9 2.6.2 National Legislation ........................................................................................................................... 9 2.6.3 State Legislation ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.6.4 Local Legislation ................................................................................................................................ 11 2.6.5 Non-Statutory Framework ............................................................................................................ 12 2.7 Secondary Sources and Previous Reports ..............................................................13 3.0 Background Information ........................................................................... 14 3.1 Biogeographical Information ......................................................................................14 3.2 Historical Background .................................................................................................15 3.2.1 Exploration and Early Colonisation ............................................................................................. 15 3.2.2 Mining .................................................................................................................................................. 17 3.2.3 Settlement and Mixed Farming ..................................................................................................... 17 3.2.4 Tobacco .............................................................................................................................................. 20 3.2.5 World War II .................................................................................................................................... 20 10029C P 1 3.2.6 The Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Scheme ................................................................................ 22 3.2.7 Recent Developments ..................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.8 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 23 4.0 Cultural Heritage Investigation ............................................................... 24 4.1 Survey Methodology ....................................................................................................24 4.1.1 Sampling Strategy .............................................................................................................................. 24 4.2 Constraints to the Survey...........................................................................................25 4.2.1 Site Integrity ....................................................................................................................................... 25 4.2.2 Ground Surface Visibility ................................................................................................................ 25 4.3 Consultation ..................................................................................................................26 4.4 Survey Outcomes .........................................................................................................26 6.0 Significance Assessment ............................................................................ 27 7.0 Proposed Development ........................................................................... 28 8.0 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 29 8.2 Recommendation 1 - Cultural Heritage Management of Unknown Sites ........29 8.3 Recommendation 2 – Unexploded Ordnance .......................................................29 9.0 References ................................................................................................... 30 Appendix 1: Discovery Of Items Of Potential Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage ....................................................................................................... 32 10029C P 2 1.0 Executive Summary This assessment has been undertaken to evaluate the non-Indigenous cultural heritage within the proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm Project. The assessment evaluates the potential impacts and required mitigation should the project proceed. The proposed wind farm development is located within lot 7 on Crown Plan SP235244, approximately 18.5km south-West of Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland. This assessment includes: ñ An historical background for the Mt Emerald Wind Farm Area. ñ The results of the cultural heritage field assessment. ñ The nature of non-Indigenous cultural heritage significance within the Mt Emerald Wind Farm Area and the potential impacts of the Project in relation to this significance. ñ General management recommendations for the site in respect to non-Indigenous cultural heritage matters. 1.1 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Sites No non-Indigenous cultural heritage sites were located during this assessment. 1.2 Significance Assessment for the Study Area No sites of non-Indigenous cultural heritage significance were identified during the assessment of the Study Area. Thus the Study Area contains no known non-Indigenous cultural heritage significance as defined under section 35 (1) of the QHA. 1.3 Impact to Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Sites It is possible but unlikely that non-Indigenous sites of cultural heritage significance may be located during the construction phase of the development. Should this occur it is recommended that the process outlined in Appendix 1 be followed. It is possible that unexploded World War II ordnance may be located during the construction phase of the development. Should this occur it is recommended that the process outlined in Volume 3, 10029C P 3 Appendix 31, of the EIS for the Project; Desk Study for Potential Historic Unexploded Ordnance Contamination, be followed. 1.4 Conclusions and Recommendations From a heritage perspective, this report has concluded that the Mt Emerald Wind Farm Area contains no known levels of non-Indigenous cultural heritage significance. Assuming the recommendations below are suitably implemented, this report finds the nature and level of impact by the Mt Emerald Wind Farm is manageable. 1.4.1 Recommendation 1 - Cultural Heritage Management of Unknown Sites It is possible that currently