Cultural Heritage Resources - Ministry of Tourism

2.4: Impacts and MitigationThis section provides guidance on how to identify and evaluate potential project impactsto identified heritage resources and abutting protected properties and develop mitigationor avoidance measures.Renewable energy projects have the potential toaffect cultural heritage resources in a variety ofways including loss or displacement of resourcesthrough removal or demolition and alteration ofresources by introducing physical, or visualelements that are not in keeping with the heritagevalue and/or their setting.ImpactsEvaluating impacts is the process of identifying,predicting, evaluating and mitigating the cultural,physical, social and other relevant effects of therenewable energy project on heritage resources.The context and qualities of the surroundings of aheritage resource can play an important role inmodern perceptions of heritage resources and thealteration of those qualities has the potential toadversely affect the cultural heritage value ofheritage resources. A renewable energy projectmight not have a direct physical impact on culturalheritage resources on or abutting the projectlocation, however there may be a wide range ofimpacts to the visual and contextual relationshipbetween the heritage resource and itssurroundings.Examples of impacts of renewable energy projectson heritage resources include (but are not limitedto):Destruction Destruction or removal of any, or part of any ofthe identified heritage attributes.Alteration Alteration of a building, structure or landscapein a manner that is not sympathetic, or isincompatible with the historic fabric andappearance. Vibration damages to a structure or buildingduring construction or because of changes toadjacent land use. Introduction of elements that visually orphysically diminish the heritage value of alandscape, structure or building.Shadows Shadows that alter the appearance of aheritage attribute or change the visibility of anatural feature.Isolation Reduced accessibility to landmark, monumentor public site. Change in relationship or isolation of aheritage attribute or resource from itssurrounding environment or context.Obstruction Obstruction of significant views from or of abuilt heritage resource or a cultural heritagelandscape. Obstruction through the rerouting of traffic,alteration of roadways or gateways near alandmark that limit access to a resource orproperty.Change in Use Change of use or neglect of a heritageresource which causes deterioration ofheritage attributes.Land disturbances Widening of existing rural roads, introductionof new roads, and/or removal of plantings, etc. Land disturbance, such as a change in gradethat alters historical patterns of topography ordrainage.If a proposed project will not affect the attributesthat embody the cultural heritage value of aresource, it is generally understood that a findingof no impact is appropriate; however the reportshould demonstrate how this conclusion wasreached for each identified heritage value.MitigationThe heritage assessment report must providerecommendations including mitigation options andconservation strategies to avoid or reduceimpacts. The heritage assessment report should12