Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage assessment checks whether a site is likely to contain Aboriginal objects or places of significance, following the due diligence process set out under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. Most established, previously-disturbed urban lots clear at the desktop due diligence stage; sites near waterways, in bushland, or with recorded sites nearby may need a more detailed assessment, including consultation with the local Aboriginal community. We scope the right level of assessment for your specific site rather than defaulting to the most involved process.
Free consultation
- 1–4 weeks, depending on the level of assessment required
- Quoted per site - typically from $1,200 + GST
- Quoted fixed after a free scope check
Why due diligence protects you, not just the process
The National Parks and Wildlife Act's due diligence code of practice exists specifically so a landowner who follows it in good faith is protected from liability if an unexpected find occurs - skipping the step removes that protection, not just the paperwork.
Source: National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW); Due Diligence Code of Practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales.
How it works
Due diligence and database search
3–5 days
AHIMS search and desktop review to assess likelihood of Aboriginal objects on site.
Site inspection, if triggered
1–2 weeks
A site inspection and, where warranted, Aboriginal community consultation follows if due diligence flags potential risk.
Documentation
3–5 days total (longer if consultation is triggered)
Findings documented to demonstrate compliance with the due diligence process.
What we take off your hands
What EHUP handles
- Running the due diligence process, including an AHIMS database search
- Determining whether your site needs only desktop due diligence or a fuller assessment
- Coordinating Aboriginal community consultation where the process requires it
- Preparing the documentation council or the certifier needs to confirm compliance
What you don't have to deal with
- Ground disturbance without the due diligence step that protects you from a Harm offence
- An assessment more involved than your site's actual risk profile requires
Frequently asked questions
Does every DA need this assessment?
Every project involving ground disturbance should run through the due diligence process at minimum - it is what protects you from an offence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act if an Aboriginal object is later found. Most established urban lots clear quickly at the desktop stage.
What triggers a more detailed assessment?
Proximity to waterways, remnant bushland, previously undisturbed ground, or a recorded Aboriginal site or object nearby in the AHIMS database. Where triggered, a site inspection and consultation with the relevant Aboriginal community follows.
What if an object is found during construction?
Work must stop in that area and the find reported - this is exactly the scenario the due diligence process is designed to prevent by identifying risk before disturbance begins, not after.
Related services
Biodiversity Assessment Report
A Biodiversity Assessment Report (commonly a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report, or BDAR) assesses your development's impact on native vegetation and threatened species habitat against the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method.
Specialist Reports
Most applications of any size need reports from specialists outside town planning.
Development Application (DA)
A Development Application is the merit-assessed approval pathway.
Why clients choose EHUP
- 10+
- 250+
- 14
- 1
Not sure which approval you need?
Tell us the address and what you want to do. We'll help identify the appropriate planning pathway, whether it is exempt development, complying development or a full DA. Your first conversation is free.