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YMAC best practice Standards

Standard-6

Respect, preserve and protect cultural heritage, Country and the environment

How to implement this Standard

Key elements

  • Protection and preservation of cultural heritage must be intrinsic to the project design, construction, and operation, as well as activity that results from every decision made during the lifecycle of the project.
  • Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and native title groups must undertake an appropriate level of due diligence for projects on Country, negotiating economic participation opportunities and the delivery of social and economic benefits, while preserving cultural heritage and the environment.
  • Traditional Owners have authority and responsibility for the protection of their cultural heritage and should therefore be at the forefront of decision-making to avoid damage to cultural sites, without exception. The development and implementation of Heritage Management Plans with PBCs will support this goal.
  • Respectful engagement with the PBC, based on genuine partnerships and shared decision-making – throughout the project – is key to the protection of cultural heritage and Country.
  • PBCs must have representatives with decision-making authority on any environmental protection body established to have oversight of environmental protection matters. [YMAC’s view mirrors the First Nations Clean Energy Network’s expression in Best Practice Principles for Clean Energy Projects.]
  • Every project should have an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) or Head Agreement (as appropriate to the project) to identify and protect sensitive environments. Proponents should anticipate and respond positively and in a timely manner to requests where cultural rights and obligations to care for Country, including cultural heritage sites, require access to the site.
  • Ongoing management and implementation of the ILUA must be adequately resourced. Proponents should fund PBCs to do cultural heritage work and respect the need for them to choose who works on cultural heritage matters.
  • Development of Social Surroundings Management Plans will support progression of environmental and other relevant approvals.
  • It must be clear what will happen at the end of a project’s life, including funding of remediation and rehabilitation activities.
  • From the outset of a negotiation, Traditional Owners will want to understand what their Country may look like at the end of a project. Discussing and visualising (e.g. through digital simulations) the potential impact (surface or otherwise) as early as possible is recommended. This will assist PBCs to better understand short- and long-term impacts and better inform their decisions, saving time for everyone.
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Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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