Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines - July 2010

Guidance notes
Heritage issues are not specific to wind farms; however, due to the extent and nature of
the disturbance footprint (excavation for foundations, cabling and access roads), it is
important that the proponent consult with the relevant authority responsible for heritage
conservation. This should facilitate a process towards community engagement.
Impacts on heritage values due to landscape, vegetation and ground disturbance
activities are similar in nature to other development projects, and the proponent should
follow the process required by the jurisdiction within which a project is being considered.
The heritage specialist should also be encouraged to consult with local communities to
identify particular fauna, flora or ecological communities that may have cultural
significance and advise the specialist undertaking the ecological assessment to ensure
that impacts to cultural values are assessed.
Section 4 identifies when cultural values should be addressed in the design and planning of
a wind farm development.
3.11 Indigenous Heritage
The issue
Both developers and local indigenous communities have sometimes had difficulty
identifying and addressing Indigenous heritage issues at wind farms sites. In addition to the
heritage values discussed above, in considering Indigenous heritage issues, it is necessary
to look not only at physical landscapes (tangible values) but also at cultural landscapes
(intangible values). These cultural landscapes include stories and song lines, places where
hunting and gathering occurs, and effects on the bush and animals (totemic animals can
be affected).
Guidance notes
Indigenous heritage assessment needs to consider both tangible and intangible values.
Best practice assessment in relation to Indigenous heritage values should integrate
consultation and landscape assessment with the examination of physical remains of past
Indigenous activity. It is important that the proponent consult with the appropriate
authority responsible for indigenous heritage. This should facilitate a process towards
indigenous community engagement.
The proponents are encouraged to consult with local indigenous communities to identify
particular fauna, flora or ecological communities that may have cultural significance and
include these in the ecological assessment.
Page 14 Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines – 2 July 2010