As part of this project and approvals process, we will undertake extensive Aboriginal ethnographic and archaeological investigations and consult with Traditional Owner groups to ensure that heritage values of the area are understood and respected, and opportunities for enhancement, improved cultural awareness and story telling are explored.

Places customarily used by, or traditional to, the Aboriginal people of Western Australia are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, 1972. Traditional Owners will be consulted on the best ways to eliminate or minimise impacts on Aboriginal heritage sites wherever possible. However, if the final alignment of the road requires that disturbance of heritage sites is unavoidable the project will be submitted to the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee and Minister for Indigenous Affairs. This application will be supported by a report detailing the outcome of all archaeological and ethnographic (study of human culture) investigations and consultation undertaken during the course of this project.

Aboriginal Heritage is also protected by the Commonwealth through the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Heritage Protection Act, 1984, which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Non Indigenous Heritage is also afforded legislative protection. At a Local Government level, the disturbance of any locally significant heritage features listed in a Council’s Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places requires Council approval. The City of Cockburn lists a number of the site’s exotic trees within its inventory, and the team must ensure that any negative impacts on these trees are minimised and/or mitigated as part of the proposal.

Investigations will be undertaken to identify any additional non-Indigenous heritage values within the project area. This will include consultation with the Heritage Council of Western Australia (HCWA) and the Australian Heritage Council (AHC).