CHAPTER 24 – CULTURAL HERITAGE AND NATIVE TITLE GULF ALUMINA LTD – SKARDON RIVER BAUXITE PROJECT Skardon River Bauxite Project Chapter 24 – Cultural Heritage and Native Title TABLE OF CONTENTS 24.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 24-1 24.2 Legislative Context ........................................................................................... 24-1 24.2.1 The Burra Charter ..................................................................................................... 24-1 24.2.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .......................... 24-1 24.2.3 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 ...................................................................... 24-1 24.2.4 Queensland Heritage Act 1992 ................................................................................ 24-2 24.2.5 Nature Conservation Act 1992 ................................................................................. 24-2 24.2.6 Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003 .......................................................... 24-3 24.2.7 Legislation Regarding Human Remains .................................................................... 24-3 24.2.8 State and Local Government .................................................................................... 24-3 24.2.9 Native Title Act 1993 ................................................................................................ 24-3 24.3 Methodology of Assessment ............................................................................. 24-4 24.3.1 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ..................................................................................... 24-4 24.3.2 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage ........................................................................... 24-4 24.3.3 Desk Based Assessment ........................................................................................... 24-4 24.3.4 Previous Archaeological Survey Work in the Project Area ...................................... 24-5 24.3.5 Assumptions and Limitations ................................................................................... 24-5 24.4 Native Title ...................................................................................................... 24-5 24.5 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Values .................................................................. 24-8 24.5.1 Relevant Aboriginal Parties ...................................................................................... 24-8 24.5.1.1 Ankamuthi People (QC1999/026; QUD 6158/98) .................................................... 24-8 24.5.1.2 The Northern Cape #1 Aboriginal Corporation ........................................................ 24-8 24.5.2 Known Sites and Artefacts within the Project Area ................................................. 24-8 24.5.3 Potential Impacts and Management Measures ..................................................... 24-10 24.5.3.1 Potential Impacts ................................................................................................... 24-10 24.5.3.2 Cultural Heritage Management Plan ...................................................................... 24-10 24.6 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage ................................................................... 24-11 24.6.1 Historical Background ............................................................................................ 24-11 24.6.1.1 First European Contact ........................................................................................... 24-11 24.6.1.2 Establishment of Batavia River Presbyterian Mission ............................................ 24-11 24.6.1.3 Mapoon Presbyterian Mission, 1891-1963 ............................................................ 24-12 24.6.1.4 Discovery of Bauxite and Resumption of Mapoon Reserve Lands ......................... 24-12 24.6.2 Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Values .............................................................. 24-16 24.6.3 Potential Impacts ................................................................................................... 24-16 24.6.4 Management of Potential Historical Cultural Heritage Values .............................. 24-16 24.6.4.1 Inspections, Monitoring and Auditing .................................................................... 24-17 24.6.4.2 Survey Marks .......................................................................................................... 24-18 24.6.4.3 Discoveries Process ................................................................................................ 24-18 24.7 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 24-19 Tables Table 24-1 Known Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites in the Project Area ................................. 24-8 Figures Page 24-i Skardon River Bauxite Project Chapter 24 – Cultural Heritage and Native Title Figure 24-1 Gulf Alumina Mining Leases showing Native Title Interests .................................... 24-7 Figure 24-2 Cultural Heritage Values ........................................................................................... 24-9 Figure 24-3 Map of northern Cape York Peninsula (1959), showing Alcan’s Authority to Prospect for Minerals (AP 53M) and Comalco’s Special Bauxite Mining Lease No. 1 ....................................................................................................................... 24-15 Page 24-ii Skardon River Bauxite Project Chapter 24 – Cultural Heritage and Native Title 24. CULTURAL HERITAGE AND NATIVE TITLE 24.1 Introduction This chapter describes the Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage values of the Project area, and the measures that are being implemented to protect, mitigate and manage heritage values which may be affected by the Project. It also provides information about native title in relation to the Project tenements and native title processes for the Project. 24.2 Legislative Context There are several pieces of Commonwealth and Queensland legislation relevant to Indigenous cultural heritage, non-Indigenous cultural heritage and native title within the Project area. These have been briefly outlined below. 24.2.1 The Burra Charter The Commonwealth and Queensland cultural heritage legislation is primarily based on the principles outlined in the Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance (1999; Burra Charter). The Burra Charter establishes the definition of cultural significance as “aesthetic, historic, scientific or social value for past, present of future generations”, and sets the basic principles for cultural heritage conservation legislation for all Australian states and territories. It also establishes criteria for assessing the significance of heritage values, including value of the site to part or all of the community (social), scientific and historical value (Australia ICOMOS Inc., 1999). 24.2.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) is the key piece of Commonwealth legislation for management of the environment and cultural heritage. The EPBC Act protects places with world heritage values – meaning places listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List – or places of national significance – meaning places on the Australian Heritage List or the Commonwealth Heritage List (both of which incorporate places previously registered on the Register of the National Estate). In particular, the EPBC Act provides a legal framework, with ‘triggers’ which require approval for actions likely to have a significant impact on places of significance and cultural heritage aspects of the environment on Commonwealth land in order to protect and manage heritage values. 24.2.3 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Qld) (ACH Act) provides a system to protect, preserve and manage Aboriginal cultural heritage areas and objects. The object of the ACH Act is to provide recognition, protection and conservation of Aboriginal cultural heritage. The ACH Act: . legislates (section 23) a ‘duty of care’ by which anyone conducting activities on land to take all reasonable and practicable measures to ensure the activity does not harm Aboriginal cultural heritage: Duties of Care Guidelines were gazetted in 2004 that outline reasonable and practicable measures for ensuring activities are managed to avoid or minimize harm to cultural heritage values. Penalties apply for causing unauthorised harm. Page 24-1 Skardon River Bauxite Project Chapter 24 – Cultural Heritage and Native Title . requires (section 87) that a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) be developed and approved wherever an Environmental Impact Statement is required for the approval of any project . establishes (section 39) a cultural heritage database maintained by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP)1. Aboriginal cultural heritage is defined as: . a significant Aboriginal area in Queensland; or . a significant Aboriginal object; or . evidence of archaeological or historic significance, of Aboriginal occupation of an area of Queensland. 24.2.4 Queensland Heritage Act 1992 The Queensland Heritage Act 1992 (QH Act) provides: . For the establishment