Appendix D Aboriginal and Non- Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment Operation of Mortdale Maintenance Facility Review of Environmental Factors – June 2017 73 Mortdale Maintenance Facility– Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment Report Mortdale Maintenance Facility FINAL REPORT Aboriginal and Non- Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment Report Report to Transport for NSW February 2017 Page i Mortdale Maintenance Facility– Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Artefact Heritage was engaged by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) to prepare an Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal (Historic) Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for proposed works to the Mortdale Maintenance Facility. The purpose of this assessment is to identify Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal sites or heritage items which may be potentially impacted by the proposed works and provide advice regarding the management of identified heritage issues. The project area comprises a 3.2-hectare area of land surrounding the MMF, east of the Illawarra Rail Line. The project area contains several short rail sidings, and a complex of storage/workshop sheds. The project area is bounded by Hurstville Road to the west and south, Oatley Avenue to the east, and the Illawarra Railway line to the north. (Figure 1). The project area is within the Georges River Council Local Government Area, at the border of the former Kogarah and Hurstville Councils. Aboriginal Archaeology This assessment found that the project area has low potential to contain Aboriginal archaeological deposits. The assessment of low potential is based on levels of previous ground disturbance noted during the site inspection, and information provided by predictive modelling. Non-Aboriginal Archaeology The Mortdale Maintenance Facility is included within two local heritage lists, and the RailCorp Section 170 heritage register. The facility is significant as the first rail shed to be utilised for electric rolling stock on the suburban line, following the implementation of the Bradfield Electrification Plan. The facility has been upgraded and altered a number of times, and has been determine to contain minimal original fabric. Historical imagery and maps of the project area also suggest that there were no substantial structures within the project area, prior to the construction of the MMF. It is therefore considered unlikely that substantial historic archaeological remains will be uncovered during proposed works. It is considered that the proposal will have a negligible impact to historical archaeological resources within the project area. Summary of Heritage Impacts In summary, the proposed works to the MMF are required for facility standard compliance and provision of additional service areas. The proposal will increase the occupational capacity of the facility and provide upgraded amenities for staff and visitors. The MMF has been assessed as having local heritage significance for its association with the Bradfield Electrification plan in mid-1920s which established the car sheds as the first of its kind on a suburban line. The structure of the MMF has undergone significant redevelopment throughout its history. There is little to no original fabric left within the structure due to a series of modifications and additions. The proposal has been assessed as having nil potential to impact the aesthetic heritage significance of the MMF. The proposed works are considered to have a minor positive impact on the historical heritage significance of the facility. The works will ensure the continued operation of the car shed, which have maintained their existing use for nearly 90 years. The proposal has been assessed as having nil potential to impact to surrounding heritage items or landscapes. Page ii Mortdale Maintenance Facility– Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment Report CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................................ 7 1.2 Site location ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.3 Project Methodology ............................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Limitations ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Authorship ............................................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 8 2.0 Statutory Framework .............................................................................................. 10 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Aboriginal heritage legislation and guidelines ...................................................................... 10 2.2.1 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ............................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Native Title Act 1994 ........................................................................................................ 10 2.2.3 Aboriginal heritage investigation guidelines ..................................................................... 11 2.3 Non-Aboriginal (historical) heritage legislation and guidelines ............................................. 11 2.3.1 New South Wales Heritage Act 1977 ............................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979......................................................... 12 2.3.3 State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) (ISEPP) 2007 ................................ 13 3.0 Environmental and historical background ............................................................ 15 3.1 Preamble .............................................................................................................................. 15 3.2 Environmental context .......................................................................................................... 15 3.2.1 Location and topography .................................................................................................. 15 3.2.2 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 15 3.2.3 Geology and soils ............................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Aboriginal ethnohistorical context ......................................................................................... 15 3.4 Early settlement .................................................................................................................... 16 3.5 Development of the project area .......................................................................................... 18 3.5.1 The Illawarra Line and Oatley and Mortdale Railway Stations ......................................... 18 3.5.2 Mortdale Electric Car Sheds ............................................................................................. 18 4.0 Physical context ..................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Site and Setting – Mortdale Maintenance Facility ................................................................ 20 4.1.1 Security Office .................................................................................................................. 22 4.1.2 Administration Building ..................................................................................................... 22 4.1.3 Maintenance Sheds .......................................................................................................... 23 4.1.4 Small Ancillary Buildings .................................................................................................. 24 4.2 Archaeological Context ......................................................................................................... 24 4.3 Known Aboriginal heritage .................................................................................................... 25 Page iii Mortdale Maintenance Facility– Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment Report 4.3.1 Preamble .......................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.2 Register search – Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) ........ 26 4.3.3 Previous Aboriginal heritage assessments ...................................................................... 29 4.4 Known historical heritage ..................................................................................................... 30 4.4.1 NSW Heritage assessment guidelines and archaeological significance .......................... 30 4.4.2 Heritage Listings ............................................................................................................... 31 4.4.3 Kogarah DCP 2013 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