Appendix C - Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment - Peabody Energy

Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
North Wambo Underground Mine Modification
located close to access roads and tracks in this survey unit included previously recorded sites Wambo Site
55 (AHIMS #37-5-0298), Wambo Site 56 (AHIMS #37-5-0299), Wambo Site 61 (AHIMS #37-5-0304). In
addition newly recorded sites Wambo Site 352 (AS B), Wambo Site 353 (AS C) and Wambo Site 357 (AS Z)
were identified on the south facing slope above a small dam. A tree was identified to the north of Wambo
Site 347 (AS H) which showed evidence of wounding from lightning strike. It was considered by the
registered Aboriginal parties present that the tree had not been culturally modified.
One possible scar tree was identified in this area and was a narrow leaved red ironbark. Wambo Site 360
(ST3) was located close to an extensive artefact scatter Wambo Site 57. The tree also shows evidence of
mechanical wounding. The tree was located on a gentle slope and was situated close to the crest. A
number of other artefact sites in addition to Wambo Site 57 may also have been associated with the scar
tree including Wambo Sites 55, 348, 351, 356 and 58. These artefact sites were all situated in close
proximity to the tree just below the crest of the hill.
Survey Unit 4
This survey unit encompassed the area that had been modified by a large dam. A large artefact scatter
(Wambo Site 62) had been salvaged under Consent to Salvage Permit #2222 prior to the construction of the
dam. The artefact scatter had been situated on the banks of an unnamed tributary of South Wambo Creek.
The remainder of this survey unit was flood plain associated with South Wambo Creek. No Aboriginal
cultural heritage sites were identified in this area.
Survey Unit 5
This survey unit was situated in the northernmost section of the project area and consisted of the southern
bank of North Wambo Creek, the marshy flood plain areas between North Wambo Creek and Wollombi
Brook and the slightly more elevated lower slopes above the dam in Survey Unit 4. Most of the area exhibits
evidence of repeated periods of inundation in addition to disturbances by farming practices such as
vegetation clearing and animal grazing, the installation of an electricity easement and the construction and
use of access roads. It was considered that there was a low potential for subsurface artefacts to occur in this
area.
Two previously recorded sites were ground truthed during the survey work, Wambo Sites 98a (37-5-0186)
and 98b (37-5-0187). Three new sites were also recorded, Wambo Site 359 (AS M), 361 (IF AA) and 362
(AS AB). These new artefact sites were identified in areas of exposed, eroded soil and were likely to have
washed down over time from further up slope.
Survey Unit 6
This survey unit was the southern corner of the project area and included a portion of Stony Creek
immediately prior to its confluence with South Wambo Creek. The area includes the creek, creek banks and
flood plain landforms.
There were no previously registered AHIMS sites in this survey unit. One new artefact site was identified,
Wambo Site 363 (AS AC). This artefact site was identified in the dry creek bed and it is considered that the
artefacts may have been washed downstream during high rainfall periods.
The project area was characterised by rolling hills to the north of the confluence of two creeks with extensive
floodplains (Figure 1-1). Stony Creek is a tributary of South Wambo Creek. The floodplain at the confluence
of these two creeks extends along both sides of the South Wambo Creek and along the western bank of
Stony Creek. South Wambo Creek is in turn a tributary of Wollombi Brook which is situated to the east of the
project area. The confluence of these two waterways is also outside of the immediate project area; however
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