Castlemaine-Diggings-National-Heritage-Park-Management-Plan

4 STRATEGIES FOR CULTURAL VALUES CONSERVATION
4.1 Indigenous cultural heritage
Indigenous tradition indicates that the
Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park
lies within the Country of the Jaara Jaara
people who are part of Dja Dja Wurrung, and
the area has a history of occupation dating
back thousands of years. The Traditional
Owners are intrinsically connected to the area
by cultural heritage, and their active
involvement in the management and care of
the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage
Park is vital to their community’s identity and
wellbeing.
Many Indigenous places and objects have most
likely been destroyed by historic land uses
such as mining and timber harvesting.
However, a number of Indigenous places and
objects have been recorded in the park. These
include scar trees, rock wells, seed grinding
grooves, oven mounds, shell middens, isolated
artefacts and meeting places. It is likely that
further sites and places will be located as
additional surveys are undertaken.
Degradation by natural processes,
inappropriate human activity, management
actions and fire are some of the major threats
to the integrity of the park’s Indigenous places
and archaeological relics.
All Indigenous places and objects are protected
under the Archaeological and Aboriginal
Relics Preservation Act and the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act
(section 2.5). It is an offence to damage,
interfere with or endanger an Aboriginal site,
place or object without obtaining prior written
consent from the scheduled Aboriginal
community.
Issues relating to the protection of such
cultural heritage and the involvement of the
scheduled Aboriginal community are
approached in accordance with these Acts. As
the Bendigo Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal
Association Ltd (the scheduled Aboriginal
community) is currently not in operation, the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has cultural
heritage responsibilities for Castlemaine
Diggings National Heritage Park in accordance
with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Heritage Protection Act. Aboriginal Affairs
Victoria (AAV) is to be contacted regarding
cultural heritage matters within the community
area.
Issues relating to native title are dealt with
according to the Native Title Act (section 2.5).
Parks Victoria respects views of the
Traditional Owners and seeks to reflect their
knowledge, interests, rights and aspirations for
Country in planning and management of the
park (Parks Victoria 2005).
Aims
• Protect Indigenous places and objects from
interference or damage.
• Strengthen park management and care
through input from Indigenous
communities.
• Support the views of the Traditional
Owners in managing the park.
Management strategies
• Protect all Indigenous places and objects
from disturbance and damage, in
partnership with the Traditional Owners,
cooperation with the scheduled Aboriginal
community and AAV (section 8.3), and in
accordance with:
• the provisions of relevant legislation
including the Archaeological and
Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act
and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Heritage Protection Act
• Parks Victoria’s Guidelines for
Working with Aboriginal Communities
and Protection of Cultural Sites (Parks
Victoria 2002a).
• Respect the views of the Traditional
Owners and the cultural obligations of
Indigenous communities.
• Reflect the Traditional Owners’
knowledge, interests, rights and
aspirations for Country in all planning and
management of the park, in consultation
with the scheduled Aboriginal community
and in accordance with Parks Victoria’s
operational policies (sections 5.1, 5.3, 5.4,
6.1 and 8.2).
12 Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park