Shellharbour City Council, in partnership with Wollongong City Council and Kiama
Municipal Council, is in the early stages of developing an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
Management Development Assessment Toolkit.

The Toolkit will assist each of the three Councils in providing the most appropriate type and degree of investigation of Aboriginal cultural heritage values when assessing development applications. The “appropriate” type or level of assessment may vary according to a proposal’s location and the known or potential Aboriginal cultural heritage values in an area, as well as the nature of the development or activity proposed and its probable degree of disturbance or impacts.

Community input will be very important in the Toolkit’s preparation to ensure that it reflects
community values and expectations in addition to meeting the various legal requirements of Councils in the areas of planning, development assessment and Aboriginal heritage
protection.

There will be opportunities for Aboriginal groups or stakeholders, project proponents or
developers, and the wider community to all be involved in the Toolkit’s development.
Shellharbour City Council, as the project’s host Council, has engaged consultants
Gondwana Consulting to assist in preparing the Toolkit, which will be finalised by mid-2012.

Download an information sheet about the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management
Development Assessment Toolkit.

Watch this page for details of how to be involved in the Toolkit’s preparation over the coming months. Or register your interest in being kept up-to-date regarding the project and
consultation opportunities by emailing alan@gondwanaconsulting.com.au with your name, contact details and any area(s) of interest.

For more information about the Toolkit project contact Ms Veronica Bird, Aboriginal
Community Liaison Officer, Shellharbour City Council, on 4221 6170 or e-mail Veronica.bird@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.