Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Cultural Heritage Assessment Heritage Advisor: Bianca Di Fazio Authors: Bianca Di Fazio & Samantha Brown November 18, 2016 Acknowledgements Heritage Insight P/L would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their assistance and participation in this study: WestWind Energy Adam Gray Marla Brauer Ashley Clifton Tobias Geiger Heritage Insight Shannah Anderson Background Research Katarina Audy GIS Mapping Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Disclaimer The information contained in this Cultural Heritage Assessment has been compiled from the standard heritage database sources and is accurate as far as Heritage Insight P/L is aware. However, within the timeframes available for technical heritage reporting, it is not possible to carry out comprehensive research of all published or unpublished manuscripts, journals, maps or oral history which may pertain to the study area. No responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions in primary and secondary source material cited in this report. Any opinions expressed in this report are those of Heritage Insight P/L only. Copyright Notice This report is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to Heritage Insight Pty Ltd. Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Existing Conditions, Environment and Geology ..................................................... 6 2.1 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Landforms and Geomorphology of the Study Area .......................................................... 8 2.3 Resources Available to Aboriginal People within the Study Area .................................... 9 3.0 Review of Previous Archaeological Research .......................................................... 12 3.1 VAHR search ................................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Historic Heritage Registers............................................................................................. 14 3.3 Previous Archaeological Assessment within the Study Area ........................................... 16 4.0 Land Use History and Ethnography ....................................................................... 17 4.1 Historical and Ethno-Historical Accounts in the Geographic Region ........................... 17 4.2 Land-Use History of the Study Area ............................................................................... 18 5.0 Conclusions and Recommendations ....................................................................... 19 5.1 Site Prediction Model ...................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Recommendations and Obligations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 .............. 20 5.3 Recommendations and Obligations under the Heritage Act 1995 ................................. 20 5.4 Recommendations and Obligations under the Golden Plains Shire Planning Scheme . 21 References.......................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix 1: Glossary ........................................................................................................ 23 Maps Map 1: Location of the study area ............................................................................................................................. 2 Map 2: Areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity within the Study Area.................................................................. 3 Map 3: Existing RAP and RAP Applications within the Study Area .................................................................. 5 Map 4: Existing Conditions across the Study Area ................................................................................................ 7 Map 5: Map showing geology of the study area and surrounds ........................................................................... 9 Map 6: Map showing 1750s EVC mapping of the study area and surrounds.................................................. 10 Map 7: Map showing location of registered Aboriginal places inside and within 200m of the study area. 13 Map 8: Map showing location of registered historical places within the study area. ...................................... 15 Figures Figure 1: Wada wurrung language area with the Gulidjan language area below .............................................. 18 Page | i Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Abbreviations ACHRIS – Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register and Information System ASL – Above Sea Level AV – Aboriginal Victoria BP – Before Present CHA – Cultural Heritage Advisor CHMP – Cultural Heritage Management Plan DPC – Department of Premier and Cabinet EVC – Ecological Vegetation Class LDAD – Low Density Artefact Distribution LGM – Last Glacial Maximum PAS – Potential Archaeological Sensitivity RTP – Radial Test Pit STP – Shovel Test Pit TP – Test Pit VAHR – Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register WTLCCHC – Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc Please note that all maps and plans in this CHMP are prepared using Victorian Government Standard GDA94 MGA (Zone 55) coordinates. Page | ii Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L 1.0 Introduction This report outlines the results of a high level investigation into the potential heritage values of the proposed Golden Plains Wind Farm, and the implications of these values in respect to the preparation of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the development. The purpose of this report is to: Identify the relevant Traditional Owner (TO) organisations; Identify any previously registered Aboriginal Places within the study area; Identify any previously registered historic sites within the study area; Identify areas/landforms of potential sensitivity; and Provide a list of subsequent steps to be followed towards an approved CHMP. Location of the Study Area The study area is located on land at Barunah Park and south west of Rokewood, approximately 60 kilometres north west of Geelong. The study area consists of approximately 40 properties covering an area of approximately 17,345 hectares within the Golden Plains Shire local government area. The study area includes sections of Ferrers Creek, Mount Misery Creek, Kuruc-a-Ruc Creek, and Mia Mia Creek as well as other unnamed watercourses identified as areas of cultural heritage sensitivity on the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register Information System (ACHRIS) (Maps 1 & 2). Under section 23 of the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007(the Regulations) land within 200m of a named water course is considered to be an area of cultural heritage sensitivity, and this therefore applies to land within 200m of both Mia Mia and Ferrers Creeks. Section 23 also applies to Baths Swamp within the study area. Under section 22 of the Regulations a registered cultural heritage place, and land within 50m of that place, is an area of cultural heritage sensitivity. The study area contains one registered place (an artefact scatter) on the banks of Mia Mia Creek, and a further registered (a stone arrangement) place on the banks of Ferrers Creek. For these reasons the study area as a whole is considered to be an area of cultural heritage sensitivity as defined in the Regulations. Page | 1 Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Map 1: Location of the study area Page | 2 Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Map 2: Areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity within the Study Area Page | 3 Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Land Manager The study area is owned by multiple individual landowners and for the purposes of this study is managed by WestWind Energy P/L. Relevant Traditional Owners The Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) responsible for a part of the study area is the Wadawurrung, Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation (WWAC). The majority of the study area is not administered by a RAP however the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) and the Guligad Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) both have an interest in the area and must be consulted during the future Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the project. EMAC currently have a RAP application under review by the Aboriginal Heritage Council that encompasses the entire study area (Map 3). Page | 4 Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L Map 3: Existing RAP and RAP Applications within the Study Area Page | 5 Golden Plains Wind Farm Preliminary Heritage Assessment Heritage Insight P/L 2.0 Existing Conditions, Environment and Geology 2.1 Existing Conditions The study area is spread over approximately 40 properties and approximately 17,000 hectares. The brief site inspection undertaken to inform this study