A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) is a written report prepared by a Heritage Advisor. It includes the results of an assessment of the potential impact of a proposed activity on Aboriginal cultural heritage. A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) is a written report prepared by a Heritage Advisor. It includes the results of an assessment of the potential impact of a proposed activity on Aboriginal cultural heritage. It outlines measures to be taken before, during, and after an activity to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in the activity area. CHMPs are compulsory when there is ground disturbance in an area of cultural sensitivity. It is the main report, encompassing a desktop assessment along with standard and complex archaeological assessments. These are completed following best practice methods, with consideration to the area impacted by the project and in agreement with the Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP). All elements of a CHMP can be done in-house at Archaeological Excavation Pty Ltd by our experienced team.
CHMPs FAQS
What is a Cultural Heritage Management Plan?
A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) is a written report that outlines measure to be taken before, during and after an activity to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in the activity area. Aboriginal cultural heritage include Aboriginal places, Aboriginal objects and Aboriginal human remains. The results of the assessment discuss the potential impact of the proposed activity on any Aboriginal cultural heritage and material within the activity area.
When is a CHMP necessary?
CHMPs are mandatory for an activity if “all or part of the activity area for the activity is in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity” and “all or part of the activity is a high impact activity” as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018.
A person may also voluntarily prepare a CHMP even if the plan is not required under the act to ensure no delays in the case of Aboriginal material being uncovered during your development.
What are the steps in a CHMP?
In order to prepare a CHMP, a Notice of Intention must be given to each relevant Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP), to the Secretary and to the occupier of any land within the area to which the plan relates. The RAPs may elect to evaluate the plan.
CHMPs, at the minimum, must consist of a Desktop Assessment. This includes research into information relating to Aboriginal cultural heritage in the activity area or associated with it. The research must include the identification and determination of the geographic region surrounding the activity area. Within the geographic region, a search of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register (VAHR) for details of Aboriginal places in order to review reports and published work about Aboriginal cultural heritage, along with reviews of the landforms or geomorphology and the historical and ethno-historical account of Aboriginal occupation. Also included in the plans is a review of the land use history of the activity area and its surrounds.
If the results of the Desktop Assessment demonstrate that it is reasonably possible that Aboriginal cultural heritage is present within the activity area, then a Standard Assessment is undertaken. This step must include a ground survey of all or part of the activity area, with ground examination of the surface of the activity area, any mature indigenous trees, and any cave, rock shelter or cave entrance.
The Complex Assessment is required if the Desktop and Standard Assessment show that Aboriginal cultural heritage is present or is likely to be present in the activity area and it is not possible to identify the extent, nature, and significance of the Aboriginal cultural heritage unless Complex Assessment is carried out. The Assessment involves the disturbance/excavation of all or part of the activity area in order to uncover or discover Aboriginal cultural heritage. This must be supervised by a person appropriately qualified in archaeology. The method used for excavating is discussed and agreed upon with the Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs), who must be consulted before beginning the assessment and during the preparation of the plan.
Who can prepare a CHMP?
The sponsor (the person who is seeking to undertake the activity) of a cultural heritage management plan must engage a heritage advisor to assist in the preparation of the plan. The cultural heritage advisor must be appropriately qualified in a discipline directly relevant to the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage and have experience and knowledge in relation to the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Our team includes highly skilled anthropologists, archaeologists, spatial data specialists, and heritage advisors to provide professional heritage approval advice. Our combined multi-disciplinary team’s extensive national and international experience ensures all stakeholders, including Traditional Owners, corporate clients, and industry bodies, are represented to the highest degree, and all outputs comply with all relevant legislation
How much does a CHMP cost?
Costs varies based on the project size and the exact elements included in the process. Get in touch with our team and we will be able to discuss with you based on the requirements of your project.
Along with costs to the cultural heritage advisor, fees are paid to the RAP or First Peoples – State Relations if a RAP has not been appointed for the area in which the activity area resides.
How long does a CHMP take?
All elements can be completed in-house by the team at Archaeological Excavations. This allows the CHMP process to be completed in a timely manner.
As one of the few consultancies with large earthmoving and sieving equipment, Archaeological Excavations is the most time-efficient salvage consultancy in the industry.
Can a CHMP be amended?
Amendments to CHMPs can be amended within 5 years of when they were approved. The application must be made in the prescribed form and accompanied by the prescribed fee. The proposed amendments should be presented clearly in the plan, with any reductions or visible plainly visible.
What happens after your CHMP gets approved?
The CHMP will establish the management conditions for the Aboriginal cultural heritage present within the activity area. The CHMP conditions vary according to:
- The impacts and ground disturbance proposed for the area
- The Registered Aboriginal Party responsible for the assessment
- Whether or not Aboriginal cultural heritage is present within the area
- The significance of the sites found within the area
The conditions can include salvage programs, cultural heritage inductions, repatriation of cultural heritage found and inspections. The costs associated with the conditions are the sponsor’s responsibility. At Archaeological Excavations we facilitate all the services related to the management conditions.
Projects
Below is some information on projects Archaeological Excavations has worked on
Ballarat 2018
The salvage program in Winter Valley was sponsored ahead of the construction of a retirement village complex, Winter Valley Lifestyle Village.
Lyndhurst
The project involved an inland port at Lyndhurst as proposed by Salta Properties. The development would bring freight from Melbourne Harbour by rail to Lyndhurst where it would then be dispatched to trucks. The project aims to solve the issue of inner-city traffic congestion and provide greater opportunities for imports and exports in the southeast of Melbourne as it provides an alternative to road-based container transfer.
Drysdale Bypass
Drysdale Bypass is Bellarine Peninsula’s biggest road infrastructure project. Running 6 km from Jetty Road to the north of Whitcombes Road, the project involved the construction of four new traffic lanes separated by a central median, along with the construction of intersections, roundabouts and traffic lights.
