As part of its responsibilities to protect cultural heritage, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) has completed its assessment of the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) submitted by the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) for Section 2B of the Western Highway upgrade — a 12.5 km stretch between Pope Road near Buangor and Warrayatkin Road near Dobie.
The project sits on Djab Wurrung Country, where EMAC has been formally recognised as the Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) under the Act since February 2020. As the RAP, EMAC is the primary body responsible for advising on and protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage in this area, including evaluating and deciding whether Cultural Heritage Management Plans meet the requirements of the Act.
EMAC sought recognition as the RAP for Eastern Maar Country so that decisions about cultural heritage on our Country would be informed directly by Eastern Maar cultural authority. Through this role, EMAC ensures that the assessment of Cultural Heritage Management Plans reflects our cultural knowledge, responsibilities and connection to Country.
For Eastern Maar, this part of Country is not simply a location on a map. It is a living cultural landscape that carries our identity, our stories and our responsibilities. These places have sustained Eastern Maar physically and spiritually for thousands of years and continue to do so today.
Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) (the Act), VIDA were required to prepare a CHMP for Section 2B of the project – identifying Aboriginal cultural heritage within the project area and establishing conditions to protect that heritage during works.
The project is being undertaken on an area of Djab Wurrung Country that EMAC has been responsible for protecting as a Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) under the Act since February 2020. As a RAP, EMAC is responsible for providing advice to those who are preparing a CHMP, and for formally assessing whether CHMPs meet the specific requirements for cultural heritage protection set out in the Act.
VIDA began preparing the current CHMP for this project in 2021, which is when EMAC became formally involved in our capacity as the RAP for the project area. EMAC was not formally involved in cultural heritage protection activities for the project prior to this time.
VIDA engaged a heritage advisor to prepare the current CHMP for the project, who undertook the required cultural heritage assessments and worked with EMAC to identify Aboriginal cultural heritage present within the project area. EMAC then evaluated the management conditions proposed by VIDA in the CHMP submission.
The CHMP assessment formally identified and registered several significant Aboriginal Places. At the centre of this recognition are the culturally significant trees that have triggered community concern surrounding Section 2B. EMAC has ensured that these trees are now formally registered as Aboriginal Places and therefor protected under the Act.
In line with its statutory obligations, EMAC has determined that the final CHMP submitted by VIDA satisfies the requirements set out in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and has therefore approved the CHMP.
The CHMP sets the conditions for protection of cultural heritage through the life of the project, and EMAC will oversee and ensure compliance with these conditions until the project is completed. VIDA will continue to manage overall project delivery on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Hard work of Eastern Maar secures invaluable cultural heritage
EMAC acknowledges the significant contributions made by EMAC staff, and – most importantly – Eastern Maar Elders and Citizens, in achieving the best outcomes possible for cultural heritage protection, within the constraints of the CHMP process.
Through the dedication of our staff, Elders, and Citizens, the approved CHMP includes significantly improved protections for cultural heritage than had been place for the project prior to EMAC becoming formally involved in 2021.
These improvements include:
- Protection of all trees within the project area that have been the subject of the cultural and community concern – including registration and protection of all trees that could legally be recognised as culturally significant within the definitions of the Act, and the protection of all trees more than 200 years old;
- The recognition of the intangible heritage associated with the protected trees, including CHMP conditions requiring the development of a 3D digital model of the trees, and a film capturing the stories, cultural significance, and community-held knowledge connected to the trees;
- Preparation of a full Cultural Values Assessment for the project area, that integrates cultural knowledge;
- Improved accuracy in the identification and registration of cultural significant sites, including expanded LiDAR survey coverage and the use of virtual reality modelling, which will greatly increase the capacity to protect these sites during the project;
- Improved mitigation strategies for flora, fauna, and other environmental impacts, including greater ongoing involvement for EMAC in inspections and monitoring throughout the project; and
- A much more inclusive, transparent, and culturally appropriate engagement with Eastern Maar throughout the CHMP development process.
