ALTERNATE WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY - AWABA. Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Awareness Training

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1 ALTERNATE WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY - AWABA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Awareness Training

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3 Acknowledgement Remondis and Lake Macquarie City Council would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Awaba area the Awabakal Peoples and pay respect to their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing connection to country. Remondis and Lake Macquarie City Council would also like to acknowledge the more contemporary connections of Aboriginal people who have attachment to the Awaba Area.

4 Statement of Aboriginal Cultural Significance Statement of Cultural Significance of the area to the Awabakal Traditional Owners The Awaba Region is an iconic landmark that features prominently within its surrounding landscape. This regions mythology, mystery and organic presence that are quite simply, uniquely Awabakal still to this day has an undeniable amount of fascination and attention regarding its cultural value and purpose. We appreciate our unique role and responsibility for the care and protection of the integrity of this landscape, for and on behalf of its original First Peoples and their descendants. We believe that the principles of the Awabakal tradition and culture still exist today to keep intact the moral and spiritual fibre of this land. Equally, we also believe it is essential to nurture new visions that are inspired by the cultural integrity of our ancestral family and we are encouraged that so many people in this town are focused on gaining an ever growing respect and understanding for the Awabakal Peoples, this land and environment. This land has had a wealth of knowledge walk over it, with each one of us deepening the footprints of our ancestral family, the Awabakal People (Awabakal Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation 10 & 30 March 2010) 2013.

5 Content of Presentation Aboriginal archaeological site types located within the Awaba area Aboriginal stone artefact types located within the Awaba area Legislation Protecting Aboriginal sites and artefacts in NSW Penalties for harm to sites and artefacts Waste Management Facility Exclusion and/or No Go Zone areas Unexpected Finds Repatriation Location Alternative Waste Treatment Facility Exclusion and or No Go Zone areas Unexpected finds Monitoring of top soil excavations

6 Aboriginal Archaeological Sites All Aboriginal sites in NSW are protected by law. The following Aboriginal site-types have been identified in the Awaba area: Isolated Artefacts Artefact Scatters Scarred Trees Grinding Grooves

7 Stone Artefact Sites Artefact Scatters and Isolated Finds: Are of high cultural importance to Aboriginal people because they provide tangible evidence of past land-use by Awabakal ancestors; Can indicate Aboriginal camp sites or activities such as a tool making areas or a food preparation sites; Are formed through the discard of stonetools or debris from the stone-tool manufacturing process; Are visible if the soil has been eroded or exposed through disturbance; and Surface artefacts may indicate that further artefacts can be found in a sub-surface context.

8 Potential Archaeological Deposits Potential Archaeological Deposits: Are areas where sub-surface artefacts are predicted to occur; Can be associated with visible artefacts but may also have no surface indication; Can be found in areas of gentle gradient close to permanent water, along ridge-lines and spur crests; and May contain fireplaces or bone fragments which can be dated.

9 Grinding Grooves Grinding Grooves are: Man-made elongated narrow depressions in soft abrasive rocks (particularly sandstone); Created by the manufacture and maintenance of cutting edges on stone axes, hatchets and chisels, and the sharpening of fire hardened spear points; Generally associated with watercourses as a steady supply of water is required to lubricate the grinding process.

10 Scarred Trees Scarred trees are trees that have been modified by Aboriginal people. They are of high Aboriginal cultural value because they represent tangible evidence of specific activities undertaken by Aboriginal ancestors. Scarring may include: Bark removal to manufacture canoes, carrying dishes, shields or shelters; Notches cut into tree trunks to assist climbing to obtain resources such as honey or small animals; Holes cut into tree trunks to extract small animals such as possums.

11 Carved Trees A carved tree is a tree that has been carved with specific designs by Aboriginal people. Importantly: They usually mark burials or ceremonial grounds; They are of extremely high Aboriginal cultural value because they are a visible sign of a traditionally important practice within a highly significant area; The preservation of scarred and carved trees is dependent upon the survival of old growth trees. (image example from Gloucester)

12 Burials Aboriginal Skeletal Remains/Burials: Aboriginal burials are of extremely high cultural value to Aboriginal people. They are Aboriginal ancestors that are remembered and held in high regard. The can be found in hollow trees, hollowed out termite mounds, rock-shelters, deep sands or deep alluvial deposits. They are mainly identified in eroding sand deposits, in alluvial soils along watercourses, or when they are disturbed during development. It is not culturally appropriate to show examples of burials/skeletal material

13 Artefact Types Cores and Hammerstones Sharp flakes of stone were removed from larger pieces of stone called cores. The flakes of stone were removed by impacting the core with another harder stone called a hammer-stone. Stone flakes removed from the cores leave behind flake scars. The stone used for flaking had to be high in silica so that it was brittle and would produce strong and sharp flakes. Stone like tuff, chert and quartz are high in silica.

14 Flakes Stone flakes were used for cutting, slicing, scraping, sawing, sewing and were sometimes shaped and used for hafting in a piece of wood to make a serrated knife or barbs for spears.

15 Axes and Hatchets

16 Current Heritage Legislation in NSW Legislation in NSW ensures that Aboriginal heritage must be considered as part of land management. Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, Parts 3, 4 & 5 National Parks & Wildlife Act Protection for all Aboriginal objects and declared Places National Parks & Wildlife Amendment (Aboriginal Ownership) Act 1996 National Parks and Wildlife Regulation Act 2010 Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ACT 2005 NPWS Policy & Guidelines as revised 2010 and 2011

17 National Parks and Wildlife Act (NPW Act) (1974) Amended 2010 All Aboriginal objects are protected by law regardless of their significance or land tenure. The NPW Act also protects Aboriginal Places, a place that is or was of special significance to Aboriginal culture. Section 91 of the NPW Act states: the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) must be informed upon the identification of all Aboriginal Objects. Failure to do this within reasonable time is an offence under the Act. Section 86 of the NPW Act states: a person must not harm, deface, damage or desecrate an Aboriginal Object or Aboriginal place without the prior approval of OEH. The NPW Act requires a person to take reasonable precautions to avoid impacts on Aboriginal objects. Various Codes of Practice and guides have been developed to assist developers.

18 Penalties under the NPS Act As amended 2010

19 Waste Management Facility: No Go Zones or Exclusion Zones Aboriginal archaeological sites are located within the WMF area. These areas must be fenced with high visibility fencing and signage before work occurs in the vicinity. No impact in these areas is permitted.

20 Waste Management Facility: No Go Zones or Exclusion Zones Aboriginal archaeological sites are located adjacent to the pipeline construction area. No impact to these areas is permitted.

21 Waste Management Facility: Identification of Aboriginal Cultural Material If any potential Aboriginal Cultural material is identified during excavation works within any part of the WMF area: All works in that area will cease; A 10 metre buffer zone will be erected around the potential Aboriginal cultural material; and The registered Aboriginal parties and an archaeologist will be contacted to assess the material.

22 Waste Management Facility: Repatriation Location Aboriginal cultural material is located within the Repatriation area. No access to this area is permitted.

23 Alternative Waste Treatment Facility: No Go Zones or Exclusion Zones An Aboriginal archaeological site and an area of Aboriginal Archaeological potential are located on the edges of the work site. These areas are identified with High visibility fencing and signs saying No Go Area and Exclusion Zone. No access to these areas is permitted.

24 Identification of Aboriginal Cultural Material Protocol following the discovery/identification of an item of potential Aboriginal cultural origin during any works within any part of the AWTF area: All works within a 10 metre radius of the identified Aboriginal cultural material must cease immediately; A 10 metre buffer zone must be demarcated around the potential Aboriginal cultural material; and The registered Aboriginal parties and an archaeologist must be contacted to assess the material.

25 Alternative Waste Treatment Facility: Monitoring Ground Disturbance Works The ground disturbing works within the top soil within 50 metre buffer zones of the No Go Areas will be conducted by representatives of the registered Aboriginal Parties and an archaeologist. Inspection by the registered Aboriginal parties is required in the event of any sandstone outcropping is uncovered. No topsoil disturbing works can occur within these areas without the registered Aboriginal Parties and an archaeologist.

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