How it works?
To get an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment report (ACHA) in NSW, you must contact a consulting firm that specialises in this reporting process. Biosis are specialists and leaders in servicing Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessments in NSW and the equivalent in Victoria.
Biosis cultural heritage consultants have established relationships with local Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) in Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Port Kembla, Illawarra, Penrith and Albury.
- Aboriginal community consultation with Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs), a key part of many assessments, typically takes a minimum of 3 months.
- The archaeological test excavations (if required) can vary but can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
- There are restrictions around proximity to specific Aboriginal site types (e.g. human burial sites or middens) and will require an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) prior to archaeological test excavations. An AHIP generally takes 60 days to be approved by Heritage NSW.
- You can expect to receive a completed assessment between four and six months. An ACHA which requires an AHIP for test excavations can take approximately eight to nine months to complete.
Technical Capability Reliable Communication
Biosis demonstrated strong technical capability and maintained clear, reliable communication throughout the project. This ensured I had consistent visibility of how the project was progressing and allowed me to plan alongside other consultant deliverables and the construction program.
Senior Project Manager, Clement Ding
Enspire Solutions
Biosis consultants will complete the assessment reports, work on the archaeology field work and consult with the Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) on your behalf
Description of environmental context
- Describe environmental characteristics including geology, hydrology, soils, topography and past land use.
- Discuss previous assessments on a local and regional scale.
Identify cultural heritage values, including known Aboriginal objects and places and areas of archaeological potential
- Detail known site location, type, context, and significance.
- Describe values across the affected area and their importance to Aboriginal people.
- Identify other potential areas with Aboriginal sites or archaeology.
Consultation process
- Detail how the consultation requirements were met.
- Include consultation with Registered Aboriginal Parties.
Assessment of harm
- Assess and describe direct or indirect harm from the proposed activity on identified cultural values.
Mitigation and management strategies
- Outline practical steps to protect Aboriginal heritage within the project area.
- Describe alternatives to harm and how harm will be minimised.
At Biosis, our clients are our priority. We have a proven track record of strong project management, including regular liaison with clients, stakeholders, and regulators. Biosis consistently prepares ACHA assessments for Heritage NSW.
Our NSW heritage team are a team of experienced professionals with decades of experience. For each project, we tailor the team to match our client’s requirements, ensuring the right people are on the job. Our specialists include stone tool experts, bone and midden analysts, rock art specialists, and historic heritage researchers, so every assessment is handled by someone with the appropriate expertise. Biosis also has extensive in-house GIS resources to ensure that all supporting documentation is robust, accurate, and irrefutable.
At Biosis, we pride ourselves on the strong relationships with Registered Aboriginal Parties and Traditional Owners which we have developed over decades of work in NSW and continue to invest in these relationships for the best project outcomes for all stakeholders.
In the report Biosis consultant will make sure each report includes
- Maps with appropriate scale, legend, and coordinates.
- Provide a definitions list.
- Follow the recommended structure approved by Heritage NSW.
- Submit the report to the NSW Government online at the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS).
- If harm cannot be avoided Biosis will apply for an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) on your behalf.
An ACHA is a report that details the potential impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage from a proposed development. It details the findings of an investigation and proposes management or mitigation measures for any identified Aboriginal objects or Places, such as those requiring an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit. If an AHIP is required for a project the AHIP application must include an ACHA.