Appendix C - Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment - Peabody Energy

Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
North Wambo Underground Mine Modification
Incorporated, Yinaar Cultural Services, Widescope Indigenous Group, Buudang and Cacatua Culture
Consultants. Troy Favell, Environment & Community Manager and David Rankin, Environment &
Community Coordinator both from Wambo Coal Mine also attended the survey.
Two polygon searches of the AHIMS database were undertaken, identifying a total of 54 sites in the area.
However, due to overlap in the search results, the actual number of sites previously recorded in the project
area and its environs was found to be 41 sites (see Section 4.3.2). This included 28 artefact scatters, ten
isolated finds, one potential archaeological deposit (PAD) and one possible scar tree. One of the artefact
scatter sites had been previously salvaged under Permit #2222 (Wambo Site 62). There were 11 artefact
scatters and seven isolated finds that had been previously recorded on the AHIMS database that lay within
the actual boundaries of the NWUMM project area, comprising the MA and buffer. The subsequent
Aboriginal cultural heritage survey identified 16 new sites. A total of 24 artefact scatters, nine isolated finds
and one possible scar tree were therefore identified within the NWUMM project area (refer Table 14).
The desktop study revealed that a number of major archaeological field surveys had previously been
undertaken in the area, including but not limited to an Aboriginal Heritage Assessment in 2003 (White 2003)
and an Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Open Cut and Underground Mine area (Rich 1991a). These
studies identified a number of sites in both the local and regional area (refer Figure 4-1).
During the course of the 2011 and 2012 Aboriginal cultural heritage field survey, sites previously identified by
White (2003) and those recorded on the AHIMS database were ground truthed. In addition, any newly
identified sites were recorded and a site card generated for inclusion on the AHIMS database. The majority
of sites within the project area were located along crests, upper and mid slope areas of the rolling hills and
on the lower slope areas above the flood plain.
Several new artefact scatters and isolated finds were identified during the field survey. These sites were
recorded and site cards were generated for registration on the AHIMS database. One possible scar tree
Wambo Site 360 was also identified during the course of the field survey. The tree was a narrow leaved red
ironbark in fair condition which showed evidence of both probable cultural scarring (on the west side of the
trunk) and wounding resulting from mechanical damage in the recent past on the east side of the trunk. A
site card has been submitted for registration with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).
The registered Aboriginal parties present inspected a number of trees with a similar girth and of similar type
in an adjacent area which had been previously undermined by longwall mining with similar predictive
subsidence modelling and found that the previously undermined trees had not been adversely affected.
They therefore determined that regular monitoring by Wambo Coal be maintained to determine that the tree
experienced no adverse effects from the proposed mining works. If any impact to the possible scar tree is
considered likely then immediate remediation measures should be instigated.
An inspection was also made of areas that had previously been mined by longwall mining in order to view the
impact of potential subsidence artefact sites in the current project area. On the basis of subsidence effects
viewed in the area, it was determined by the registered Aboriginal parties present, that if subsidence impacts
were minimal then it was unlikely that artefact sites would suffer impact. However, where subsidence
predictions were moderate to high then the artefact sites could be impacted on by downward movement due
to vertical subsidence (whereby the land surface moves downwards as a whole). As such, an Aboriginal
Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) would be required for Aboriginal sites that were likely to suffer impact. The
registered Aboriginal Parties recommended that artefact scatters and isolated finds not be moved unless
required. They considered that if impact to specific sites was likely, then those sites should be salvaged
under an appropriate permit. It was also recommended that periodic monitoring of the sites be maintained
by Wambo Coal to mitigate against potential site damage from subsidence impacts. If any impact to the
Aboriginal objects is considered likely then immediate remediation measures should be instigated.
108453-2; October 2012 ES- 2