Re; TARRA COALMINE AI'OI(I - Whitehaven Coal

Re; TARRA COALMINE AI'OI(I
ITERIT ASSESSMENT
RED CHIEF LALC PAGE øTIø1.

34-36 Farrar Road
PO Box 439
GUNNEDAH NSW 2380
t3lrU09
Mr Danny Young
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd
Gunnedah Office
Whitehaven CHPP & Siding
PO Box 600
Gunnedah NSS 2380
Dear Mr Young
Phone: 0267427038
Fax: 026742 6670
Email: cdep@northnet.com.au
ABN: 99561430099
RE: Tarrawonga Coal Mine Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation wishes to express an interest to be consulted in relation to all
matters relating to the Assessment of Aboriginal culture and heritage in our area. Gunida Gunyah
Aboriginal Corporation has a major responsibility to its communify to ensure the identification,
preservation and protection of items of significance to Aboriginal people; it is not only artefacts' but the
landscape and its cultural setting.
Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation represents alarge portion of the Aboriginal community directly
and indirectly.
If you require any information in regards to our Corporation please contact the writer, Mrs Jane Bender
CEO or the Chairperson, Mt Allan Talbott on the above mentioned contact details.
Sincerely
Jane Bender
CEO
Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation
N.B Please disregard the email address at the top of this letter. The correct email is
j ane@ gunida gunyah. c om. au

Min-Min Aboriginal Corporation
1-55 Elgin Streer
Gunnedah NSW Zgg0
Po Box 877,
Gunnedah NSW 2380
Phone No,: (02) 67424121
Fax No.: (02) G742S1ST Dare: 13t11t2009
Dear Danny.
lN response to your ietter which I received this morning 13th November 2009
whích was e¡reatly appreciated, that you thought of Min"n¿in, as one of the
three peak Aborigínal organisations in tne "oñlrun¡ty, ¡r ¡s ¡¡¿pOpTANT ihar
all the Aboriginal_organisations are informed about ait'nnoritinal Cutture and
Heritage impact Assessments-
Min Min executives is happy to sit and consutt with your company about future
developments and to identify arees and any changés that may occur.
Minj\4in Aboriginal Corporatíon is happy to register as a key organisation in
the Tarrawonga coal Mine cultural Éeritage Àssessrnent.
Regards
Gwen Griffen
Chairperson \

From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Danny Young
Group Environment Manager
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd
M ichel le G riffiths [wal I is. griffiths@big pond.com]
Thursday, 12 November 2009 g:42pM
Danny Young
Expression of lnterest from Bigundi Biame Traditional people
ln reply to your Public Notice of an Environmental planning and Assessment
Bigundi Biame Traditional People wish to lodge our expression of interest to be involved, and participate, in the consultation for the Aboriginal Cultural and
Heritage Assessment for the Tarrawonga Coal Mine located north east of Boggabri and North west of Gunnedah, Central Northern New South Wales.
I would appreciate if we could arrange a meeting to discuss this project further.
I may contacted at anytime on 0409 220 756. My contact details are listed below.
7,/a4*æ E4frrl¿
Traditional owner
Bigundi Biame Traditional People
PO BOX 254
Gunnedah NSW 2380
Tel: 02 674203It
Mob:0409 220756

ø249644635' CACATUA GENERAL SERV PAGE Ø1.¡øT
Cacabua Culture Consultants
Erùify of Cacalua GeneralServlces
17 November 20Og
Danny Young
Group Environmental Manager
Tarrawonga Coel Pty Ltd
PO Box 600
Gunnedah NSW 2380
RE: South Ênvironmental Plannlng and Assessment
Mr Young,
We are lnterest in being involved in the above proposed Aboriginal
Cultural Heritage lmpact Assessment as per your not¡ce in the Namoi
Valley lndependent on Thursday November L2,2009.
Our Organisation is fully insured and registered with DECC/EtRe, to
undertake work in this area as our mênager Is a Gomeroi/Kamilaroi men
from the dlstrict. Our staff has experience working on different types of
sites includirrg mines in the Gomeroi/Kamilaroi area.
Yours truly
Ç*y?9*+-
George Sampson
Manager
Email: Cacatua @resetdsl.net.au
65 Jaeger ,qvenue, Gunnedah NSW 2380
OR
2e b¡s Parade.Woodberry NS\V ¿3¿?
Ph:OP +96+ 4685 ¡ FaxO¿ +96+ +635
ABN 83 77+ 580 5 18

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Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
Attachment ED
Proposed Methodology for the Cultural and Archaeological Assessment

Gunnedah Office
Whitehaven CHPP & Siding
PO Box 600
Gunnedah NSW 2380
Ph: 02 67424337
Fax: 02 67423607
TARRAWONGA COAL MINE MODIFICATION
PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
FOR THE
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
23 November 2009

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification DRAFT CULTURAL HERITAGE METHODOLOGY
1 INTRODUCTION
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd intends to modify the Tarrawonga Coal Mine (hereafter, the
Modification). The Modification will involve increasing the area of the open pit to the eastern
edge of the mining lease. Increased areas and heights of overburden emplacements, a new
disturbance area for topsoil and subsoil stockpiles, an additional hardstand/infrastructure
area and construction of additional water storages form part of the Modification. The
Tarrawonga Coal Mine is located approximately 15 km northeast of Boggabri and 42 km
northwest of Gunnedah in central northern New South Wales (Figure 1).
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd are seeking to engage with the Aboriginal community as part of the
preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) under Section 75W Part 3A of the
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for the Modification. To this end,
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd has invited stakeholder groups or people wishing to be consulted to
register their interest.
Cultural heritage consultancy Landskape and project archaeologist Dr Matt Cupper have
been engaged by Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd to undertake cultural and archaeological
assessments of any Aboriginal heritage that could occur within the proposed disturbance
areas of the expanded pit, overburden emplacements and ancillary infrastructure. These
assessments will then be integrated into a single Cultural Heritage Assessment report, which
will form part of the Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification EA. The assessment is required to
be conducted in accordance with the Draft Guidelines for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Impact
Assessment and Community Consultation (DEC, 2005) and Standards for Archaeological
Practice in Aboriginal Heritage Management (NPWS, 1997). Consultation with Aboriginal
people and communities will be guided by the Interim Community Consultation Requirements
for Applicants (DEC 2004).
Section 2 of this document outlines the proposed methodology for the cultural and
archaeological assessment of any Aboriginal objects, places and/or Aboriginal cultural
heritage values that could occur within the proposed work areas. These include the area of
the open pit, overburden emplacements, topsoil and subsoil stockpiles, and additional
hardstand/infrastructure area and water storages. The locations of these areas are illustrated
on Figure 2. Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd invites registered parties to provide comments (either
verbally or in writing) on the proposed methodology outlined in Section 2.
Section 3 provides further information on the preparation of the Cultural Heritage
Assessment report.
1

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification DRAFT CULTURAL HERITAGE METHODOLOGY
2 PROPOSED ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY
The proposed methodology for the cultural and archaeological assessment is as follows:
• Conduct a desktop assessment to delineate areas of known and predicted Aboriginal
objects, places and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the proposed work
areas.
• Identify the Aboriginal cultural heritage values associated with the area through
consulting with Aboriginal people with cultural knowledge or responsibilities for country in
which the Modification occurs, utilising written, oral research and field investigation. This
would include an archaeological field study of the proposed work areas with
representatives of the local Aboriginal community to identify Aboriginal objects, places
and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage values. The field investigation would be carried out by
the project archaeologist Dr Matt Cupper with the assistance of Aboriginal
representatives. These field representatives would, as broadly as is practical, represent
all the local Aboriginal stakeholder groups.
• Record any Aboriginal objects, places and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage values within
the work areas and assess their significance with representatives of the local Aboriginal
community.
• In consultation with the Aboriginal community, develop recommended management and
mitigation measures for any Aboriginal objects, places and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage
values within the proposed work areas.
• Assess the potential impact of the proposed development on any Aboriginal objects,
places and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the proposed work areas.
• Describe and justify the proposed outcomes and alternatives.
• Document the Aboriginal cultural heritage impact assessment and the conclusion and
recommendations to minimise potential impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage.
3 CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Following the cultural and archaeological assessment, Landskape will prepare a draft
Cultural Heritage Assessment report. The Cultural Heritage Impact assessment report will be
provided to registered parties and will include:
• detail of any Aboriginal objects, places and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage values within
the study area and how they could be impacted by the proposed modifications;
• detail of the consultation undertaken and how comments received at various times were
considered; and
2

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification DRAFT CULTURAL HERITAGE METHODOLOGY
• management and mitigation recommendations drawing on information provided by
registered parties and the results of the cultural and archaeological assessments.
4 PERSONNEL
Project Archaeologist: Dr Matt Cupper would be the project archaeologist. Matt has a wide
range of experience in cultural and natural heritage management and an academic
background in archaeology, geology and botany, including a PhD in the palaeoecology and
early Aboriginal occupation of the Darling River. His particular area of expertise is the
interaction of Aboriginal people and arid ecosystems in the interior of Australia. As a
consultant archaeologist he has been engaged in many management and research-oriented
studies of the Murray Darling Basin for industry and government. These have included
investigation of the cultural heritage of the dunefields of western New South Wales for
petroleum and mineral sands developments, and archaeological surveys of water supply and
irrigation infrastructure along the Murray and Darling Rivers.
Aboriginal Field Representatives: Aboriginal field representatives would be engaged by
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd for the duration of the cultural heritage field survey (~2 days).
3

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
Attachment EE
Formal Responses from Aboriginal Stakeholder Groups to Proposed Methodology

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to- 2t -L
07-DEC-2009 02:49 P, 1

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
Attachment EF
Formal Responses from Aboriginal Stakeholder Groups to Draft Report

01/03/10
Dr Matt Cupper
Principal Archaeologist, Landskape
PO Box 1068
Carlton Vic 3053
Re: Draft Aboriginal Archaeological Cultural Heritage Assessment of the Tarrawonga Mine modification
Dear Mr Cupper
Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation does does not not and cannot cannot support support any any destruction destruction of of any any significant significant cultural
cultural
sites that hold importance to our community and culture. It is imperative that this Corporation does all that it can to
ensure the protection protection and and conservation conservation of of our culture for for the future social, cultural cultural and economic economic wellbeing of of the
Aboriginal community.
Gunida Gunyah also considers considers that that large large mining mining companies companies allow Aboriginal Aboriginal stake holders 21 21 days to to assess,
consult and respond to to these these assessments, yet our heritage dates dates back back thousands of of years years we we find 21 days
days
inadequate to appropriately assess and respond to these assessments.
With this being being said we we are at at this this stage stage satisfied satisfied that that the the management management strategies and recommendations are
satisfactory.
Regards
Jane bender
Jane Bender CEO
On behalf of Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation

11 March 2010
Danny Young
Group Environment Manager
Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd
RED CHIEF LOCAL
ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL
P.O. BOX 745
GUNNEDAH NSW 2380
Phone: (02) 6742 3602 Fax: (02) 6742 3815
Email: redchief@westnet.com.au
Re: Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd Cultural Heritage Assessment and Suggested
Management Plan
Dear Danny
I am writing in regards to the above and would like to take this opportunity to offer
Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council’s response.
Firstly in relation to the stakeholder representative’s comments as far as possible
management issues are concerned. I feel you should understand that although they are
professional in their work and are entitled to form their own opinion their comments
should only be considered as a personal view and does not entirely reflect that of the
group or community they represent.
Any potential loss of Cultural Heritage is taken seriously within our organisation and
these issues need some time and consideration to conclude the best management out
comes for all concerned.
Over past centuries much Aboriginal Culture has been destroyed in many different
forms, our language and customs were forbidden to be practiced because of
government policy. And now the only remnants that give us a small glimpse and a
connection to how our forbearers lived will expected to succumb to the greatest
destroyer of all ‘Development’.
The Draft Report has clearly noted or concluded that the one isolated find 20-4-
0156[NAS02] is not of high scientific significance, simply based on a reference
concluded from an Archaeologist’s Assessment of Significance and would be left for
an opinion to be form from those whom are most effected.
Site discovery is most certainly helpful in rekindling a displaced race of peoples lost
passed. After all it is not just the discovery of stone and bone or trees with unusual

markings that make for millennia of culture but our peoples close connection to
country for every living plant animal or insect every natural landform has a place and
plays an important roll in the of an Aboriginal person.
As stated earlier in this letter we do take these matters seriously and furthermore we
can not support any development that detracts what is “a living culture”.
Yours truly,
Robert Horne CEO

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
Attachment EG
Previously Identified Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites Within Approximately 5 km of
the Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
Table EG-1. Previously Identified Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites Within
Approximately 5 km of the Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification.
AHIMS Site
Number
Name Type GDA94 mE
(Zone 56)
GDA94 mN
(Zone 56)
20-4-0017 Nagero Creek Stone artefacts 225705 6608189
20-4-0018 Leard SF Goonbri Ck Stone artefact 231946 6610233
20-4-0019 Leard SF 5 Stone artefact 227451 6611075
20-4-0022 BC1 Stone artefact 226063 6611506
20-4-0023 BC2 Stone artefacts 226011 6611602
20-4-0024 BC3 Stone artefacts 226229 6612333
20-4-0025 BC4 Stone artefacts 227126 6611577
20-4-0026 BC5 Stone artefact 226989 6610613
20-4-0027 BC06 Stone artefact 226989 6610613
20-4-0028 BC7 Stone artefact 227656 6611117
20-4-0029 BC8 Stone artefacts 227855 6611113
20-4-0030 BC9 Stone artefact 227920 6611159
20-4-0031 BC10 Stone artefacts 227966 6611252
20-4-0032 BC11 Stone artefacts 228231 6611286
20-4-0033 BC12 Stone artefact 228078 6612217
20-4-0034 BC13 Stone artefacts 227968 6611850
20-4-0035 BC14 Stone artefact 227512 6611198
20-4-0036 BC15 Stone artefact 227431 6611081
20-4-0037 BC16 Culturally modified tree 227387 6611077
20-4-0038 BC17 Stone artefact 227644 6608315
20-4-0039 BC18 Stone artefact 227622 6608416
20-4-0040 BC19 Stone artefact 227622 6608492
20-4-0041 BC20 Stone artefact 227531 6608729
20-4-0042 BC21 Stone artefacts 226251 6609073
20-4-0043 BC22 Stone artefact 227767 6608516
20-4-0044 BC23 Stone artefact 226605 6608460
20-4-0045 BC24 Stone artefact 226039 6610496
20-4-0046 BC25 Stone artefact 226014 6610716
20-4-0092 NAS01 Stone artefacts 227359 6607672
20-4-0093 NIS01 Stone artefact 227127 6607690
20-4-0120 BC26 Stone artefact 225879 6611038
20-4-0121 BC27 Stone artefacts 226238 6609120
20-4-0122 BC28 Stone artefact 226159 6609147
20-4-0123 BC29 Stone artefacts 226090 6609164
20-4-0124 BC30 Stone artefact 226018 6609174
20-4-0125 BC31 Stone artefacts 225354 6609238
20-4-0126 BC32 Stone artefact 225147 6609354

Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
Table EG-2. Previously Identified Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites Within
Approximately 5 km of the Tarrawonga Coal Mine Modification.
AHIMS Site
Number
Name Type GDA94 mE
(Zone 56)
GDA94 mN
(Zone 56)
20-4-0127 BC33 Stone artefacts 225058 6609442
20-4-0128 BC34 Stone artefacts 225940 6611680
20-4-0129 BC36 Stone artefact 230527 6609006
20-4-0130 BC37 Historical, culturally
modified tree
226785 6608396
20-4-0131 BC38 Stone artefacts 226524 6608158
20-4-0132 BC39 Stone artefacts 226422 6608122
20-4-0133 BC40 Stone artefacts 226468 6608332
20-4-0134 BC41 Stone artefacts 226333 6608273
20-4-0135 BC42 Stone artefacts 226309 6608430
20-4-0136 BC43 Stone artefacts 226155 6608455
20-4-0137 BC44 Stone artefacts 226186 6608185
20-4-0138 BC45 Stone artefacts 226282 6608124
20-4-0139 BC46 Stone artefacts 226098 6608743
20-4-0140 BC47 Stone artefacts 226157 6608862
20-4-0141 BC48 Stone artefacts 226223 6608938
20-4-0142 BC49 Stone artefact 226057 6608625
20-4-0143 BC50 Culturally modified tree 225982 6608482
20-4-0144 BC51 Culturally modified tree 226179 6608523
20-4-0145 BC52 Culturally modified tree 226105 6608889
20-4-0146 BC53 Stone artefact 225786 6608227
20-4-0147 BC54 Stone artefacts 225773 6611647
20-4-0148 BCHR1 Stone artefacts 225485 6608430
20-4-0149 BCHR2 Stone artefact 225368 6608222
20-4-0150 BCHR3 Stone artefact 224793 6608318
20-4-0151 BCHR4 Stone artefact 224630 6608316
20-4-0152 BCHR5 Stone artefacts 224530 6608290
20-4-0155 BCHR6 Stone artefact 223161 6607947
20-4-0156 NAS02 Stone artefacts 228888 6606030
20-4-0157 GGOS1 Stone artefacts 228604 6605280
20-4-0158 GGOS2 Stone artefacts 228450 6604477
20-4-0159 GGOS3 Stone artefacts 228397 6604437
20-4-0160 GGOS4 Stone artefacts 228440 6604352
20-4-0161 NST1 Culturally modified tree 227458 6606533
20-4-0196 Boggabri Coal PAD Potential
Archaeological Deposit
226020 6607460