Aboriginal culture is the oldest living culture in the world, holding significant social, spiritual, historical, scientific, and aesthetic value for Aboriginal people and the wider community.
To assist with the recognition, management, protection, and preservation of Aboriginal sites in Western Australia, the State Government has committed to a 10-year Aboriginal Heritage Survey Program across the state, managed by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (Department).
The benefits of surveying an area for Aboriginal heritage include:
- better protection of Aboriginal heritage;
- allowing land users to plan their activities to avoid harm to Aboriginal sites;
- provide clarity about the requirement to undertake future Aboriginal heritage surveys of the area; and
- improving the accuracy of the Register of Places and Objects.
The purpose of the Aboriginal Heritage Survey Program is to:
- Survey areas to record Aboriginal heritage to:
- record Aboriginal heritage for inclusion on the Register of Places and Objects;
- submit information about Aboriginal heritage via ACH Submission forms through ACHknowledge, the Department’s Aboriginal heritage portal; and
- ensure Aboriginal heritage information can be accessed easily and relied on as part of statutory approvals under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (Act) to use land where Aboriginal sites are located.
- Accurately remap boundaries of Aboriginal sites and known heritage places where required (such as where former mapping technology did not allow for accuracy).
- Confirm locations where Aboriginal heritage is not known to be located to:
- allow activities to be undertaken without need for statutory approval under the Act; and
- provide clarity about the requirement to undertake future Aboriginal heritage surveys of the area.
To apply for an Aboriginal heritage survey you will need to complete and lodge an Aboriginal heritage survey application form via ACHknowledge.
