Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...

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retrieval and reburial of ancestral remains uncovered in Bournda and Kosciuszko NPs. Reburial
locations continue to be inspected to ensure these sites are secure.
The repatriation program enables ancestral remains to be returned to Country. In partnership with local
Aboriginal communities, DECC continued to identify, rank and coordinate the return of ancestral
remains, cultural materials and cultural information to Country (page 94, Chapter 4: Protect and
revitalise Aboriginal culture and heritage, DECC Annual Report 2007–08).
Repatriation projects involving the Ngunnawal, Brungle/Tumut and Eden Local Aboriginal Land
Councils of the Southern and Eden regions were conducted during 2007–2008.
The repatriation program in 2008–2009 will continue with planning for the return of approximately
104 remains held by the Australian Museum and Sydney University to local Aboriginal communities
around Sydney and in southern NSW.
In 2007–2008, under the rock art conservation program, work in the LNE region included removing
graffiti from rock art sites at Wollemi National Park and continuing rock art conservation training with
DECC regional staff and Wonnaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council members (page 94, Chapter 4:
Protect and revitalise Aboriginal culture and heritage, DECC Annual Report 2007–08).
DECC’s Aboriginal sites awareness training program was developed in 2007. Training was delivered to
six government and non-government partners. Results showed improved understanding and
appreciation of Aboriginal heritage, increased knowledge of regulatory requirements, enhanced abilities
in identifying and managing Aboriginal sites, and improved skills in working effectively with Aboriginal
people (page 95, Chapter 4: Protect and revitalise Aboriginal culture and heritage, DECC Annual
Report 2007–08).
The Aboriginal sites decision support tool (ASDST) models the distribution of Aboriginal sites, including
camp sites, rock art, and scarred trees. The information can be used to identify the preservation status
of Aboriginal sites, their representation in existing conservation mechanisms and the context for
conservation strategies prepared with Aboriginal communities. In 2007–2008, ASDST was used in
initiatives such as the Great Eastern Ranges Cultural Values Project and regional assessments of the
Cathedral Rock NP, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and Crown lands (page 100, Chapter 4:
Increase Aboriginal participation in land, water and natural resource management, DECC Annual
Report 2007–08).
The Pandanus People in South West Rocks carry out restoration projects such as removing
weeds from, and planting trees and shrubs in, Arakoon SCA and Hat Head NP. In 2007–2008,
they established a nursery for propagating native plants with DECC staff, and sold the plants to
other planting programs to assist with the sustainability of the nursery (page 100, Chapter 4:
Increase Aboriginal participation in land, water and natural resource management, DECC Annual
Report 2007–08).
The Pambula River Cultural Landscape Project, which involves the Eden Local Aboriginal Lands
Council, Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and DECC, began in March 2008 and
involves surveying all the midden sites and developing a management plan. The estimated completion
date is the end of 2009 (page 100, Chapter 4: Increase Aboriginal participation in land, water and
natural resource management, DECC Annual Report 2007–08).
NSW FOREST AGREEMENTS AND INTEGRATED FORESTRY OPERATIONS APPROVALS