Applicant: Neoen Australia Pty Ltd
Project:  Goyder North Wind Farm
Application area: An area of land comprising around 17,700 ha in South Australia’s Goyder region
Application Type:  Sections 21 and 23

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Minister), who is responsible for the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) (Act), has received an application for authorisations under sections 21 and 23 of the Act from Neoen Australia Pty Ltd (Applicant) in relation to its Goyder North Wind Farm Project.

About the Project

The Applicant proposes to construct a large-scale wind farm and battery storage facility known as the Goyder North Wind Farm Project (Project) within an area of land comprising approximately 17,700 ha located north of Burra, in South Australia’s Goyder region.

The Project would involve ground disturbing works and other supporting works within the application area to enable the construction of up to 99 wind turbines; two battery storage facilities and substations; and an approximately 48 km long overhead transmission line.

Aboriginal heritage

AAR holds records for four Aboriginal sites within the application area. AAR is also aware of four additional areas described as cultural heritage sites in a report prepared following an anthropological heritage survey with Traditional Owners in March 2024.

Section 21 makes it an offence to excavate land for the purpose of uncovering Aboriginal sites, objects or remains (together, heritage). Section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage without authorisation from the Minister.

As the Project would potentially involve ground-disturbing works that may impact, or require excavation of, heritage, the Applicant has sought authorisations under sections 21 and 23 of the Act.

Proposed heritage management

The Applicant has committed to implementing avoidance areas around the eight known heritage locations and developing Cultural Heritage Management Plans with Traditional Owners to ensure the appropriate management of Aboriginal heritage during the Project. The Applicant has further committed to following AAR’s Aboriginal Heritage Discovery Protocols (PDF, 219.3 KB) if heritage is discovered during Project works.

More information about the Project, Aboriginal heritage intersecting the application area and the Applicant’s proposed heritage management measures is included in the Consultation Information Pack (PDF, 6.9 MB).

Further information from the Applicant

The Applicant has also prepared a detailed Project Description(PDF, 3.3 MB) in relation to its application for authorisations under the Act. Traditional Owners and interested Aboriginal parties may contact AAR to request a hardcopy of the Applicant’s Project Description.

For a detailed overview of the Applicant’s Goyder Renewables Zone, see: www.goyderenergy.com.au

Information about specialist reports undertaken by the Applicant in relation to the Project are available on the Applicant’s website.

Consultation and submissions

Before considering whether to grant the authorisations, section 13 requires the Minister to first consult with the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, Traditional Owners, and any other Aboriginal parties he thinks may have an interest in the matter.

Aboriginal Community Consultation Meeting

An Aboriginal Community Consultation Meeting will be held for Traditional Owners and any other interested Aboriginal people and organisations.

When: from 10:00 am, Monday 8 September 2025
Where: Mawson Lakes Hotel (Varsity Room), 10 Main Street, Mawson Lakes.

Lunch will be provided for attendees. Please RSVP for catering purposes.

Submissions

If you are a Traditional Owner or an interested Aboriginal party, please consider making a submission.

When making a submission, please consider and respond to at least the following questions:

1. Should the authorisations sought by the Applicant be granted? Why or why not?
2. If the authorisations are granted, what conditions (if any) should be imposed on them?
3. Will the Project provide you with any direct or indirect benefits (e.g. cultural, financial or personal)?
4. Are there any other matters the Minister should consider when deciding this application?

Consultation closes, Thursday 2 October 2025

How your submission will be used

Consultees may request AAR to keep any cultural information in their submission confidential.

Where possible AAR will accommodate that request; however, procedural fairness considerations may require that the Applicant be provided with a right of response to information that is relevant (or at least so much of the information as is relevant).

Otherwise, all submissions will be forwarded to the Applicant in full for comment. Once the consultation period has closed, consultee submissions and the Applicant’s comments about them will then be forwarded to the Committee, and the Committee’s advice will then be sought.

AAR will collate all submissions, the Applicant’s responses to them, the Committee’s advice, and its own recommendations to the Minister to assist the Minister to make a final decision about the application.

More information

To RSVP to the consultation meeting, provide a submission and/or request further information, or for requests to be notified once a decision has been made, please contact:

aar.heritagesubmissions@sa.gov.au
(08) 8429 9419

Peter Kapiris
Acting Principal Project Officer (Heritage), AAR
GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA 5001

Applicant: Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Project:  North Adelaide Golf Course Redevelopment
Application area: The land comprising most of Park 1 Pirltawardli/ Possum Park and Park 27A John E Brown Park in the Adelaide Park Lands bounded by the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens).
Application Type:  Sections 21 and 23

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Minister), who is responsible for the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) (Act), has received an application for authorisations under sections 21 and 23 of the Act from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) (Applicant) to redevelop the North Adelaide Golf Course, situated in the Adelaide Park Lands and adjacent to the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens) (the Project).

Section 21 makes it an offence to excavate land for the purpose of uncovering Aboriginal sites, objects or remains (together, Aboriginal heritage). Section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage without authorisation from the Minister.

About the project

The Project involves ground disturbing works within the Application Area to redevelop and expand amenities at the North Adelaide Golf Course, including the construction of associated infrastructure, facilities and services.

Known Aboriginal heritage

The application area is known to intersect Aboriginal heritage, including the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens) and an historic Aboriginal site.

There is potential for subsurface Aboriginal heritage to be discovered during ground-disturbing Project works.

If granted, the authorisations would allow the Applicant (subject to conditions) to damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage and to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal heritage.

Updated heritage information - 30 July 2025

The Consultation Information Pack (CIP) (PDF, 4.5 MB) has been amended on page 13 to include a summary of a cultural heritage assessment undertaken in 2023 by heritage consultancy firm Neale Draper & Associates, in consultation with Kaurna representatives, over part of the application area. This report has recently become available to AAR. The report concludes, based on historical records and reports relevant to the area (summarised in the CIP), that:

...the southern end of the North Adelaide PAR 3 golf course probably retains a substantial archaeological record of traditional Kaurna use as a large-scale camping and ceremonial precinct, with a high probability of traditional burials occurring within 1.5m depth of the natural land surface.

Consultation and submissions

Before considering whether to grant the authorisations, section 13 requires the Minister to first consult with the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, Traditional Owners, and any other Aboriginal parties he thinks may have an interest in the matter.

More detail about the application and the Project, including updated heritage information, can be found in the Consultation Information Pack (PDF, 4.5 MB).

The Applicant has committed to developing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan to help manage any potential heritage discoveries and impacts throughout the Project. The Applicant has further committed to following AAR’s Aboriginal Heritage Discovery Protocols (PDF, 219.3 KB) if heritage is discovered during Project works.

Aboriginal Community Consultation Meeting

A meeting was held for Traditional Owners and any other interested Aboriginal parties and organisations on Saturday 19 July 2025 at Mawson Lakes Hotel.

Submissions

If you are a Traditional Owner or an interested Aboriginal party, please consider making a submission.

When making a submission, please consider and respond to at least the following questions:

1. Should the authorisations sought by the Applicant be granted? Why or why not?
2. If the authorisations are granted, what conditions (if any) should be imposed on them?
3. Will the Project provide you with any direct or indirect benefits (e.g. cultural, financial or personal)?
4. Are there any other matters the Minister should consider when deciding this application?

Consultation was extended and closed on Thursday 21 August 2025. 
The Consultation Information Pack was amended on pages 18 and 19 accordingly.

How your submission will be used

Consultees may request AAR to keep any cultural information in their submission confidential.

Where possible AAR will accommodate that request; however, procedural fairness considerations may require that the Applicant be provided with a right of response to information that is relevant (or at least so much of the information as is relevant).

Otherwise, all submissions will be forwarded to the Applicant in full for comment. Once the consultation period has closed, consultee submissions and the Applicant’s comments about them will then be forwarded to the Committee, and the Committee’s advice will then be sought.

AAR will collate all submissions, the Applicant’s responses to them, the Committee’s advice, and its own recommendations to the Minister to assist the Minister to make a final decision about the application.

More information

To provide a submission and/or request further information, or for requests to be notified once a decision has been made, please contact:

aar.heritagesubmissions@sa.gov.au
(08) 8363 8622

Joanne Fleer
Senior Project Officer (Heritage)
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA 5001

Applicant: Department for Environment and Water
Project:  Establishing baseline data for the conservation of Koonalda Cave
Application area: The underground area of Koonalda Cave, located on the Nullarbor Plain, limited to the extent shown and described in the Consultation Information Pack (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Application Type:  Section 23

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Minister), who is responsible for the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) (Act), has received an application for authorisation under section 23 of the Act from the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) (Applicant) to undertake digital recording, laser scanning, climate monitoring and water quality sampling (activities) inside Koonalda Cave (Project), a highly significant Aboriginal site for Mirning Custodians and Aboriginal peoples of the Far West Coast.

Section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage without authorisation from the Minister.

About the Project

Koonalda Cave is within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area, on land managed by the Applicant with advice from the Nullarbor Parks Advisory Committee (NPAC). NPAC comprises Mirning members nominated by Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (FWCAC), as well as employees of the Applicant.

The Applicant plans to engage appropriately skilled and qualified practitioners through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to capture baseline data about the cave. The data collected will record the current condition of artwork inside the cave, test the quality of the water and record humidity levels and temperature inside the cave. The activities are supported by, and align with, the Koonalda Cave Conservation Management Plan (CMP) that was finalised in early 2025, in partnership with NPAC, with input from FWCAC, the Mirning Council of Elders and Far West Coast Aboriginal people.

Known Aboriginal heritage

Koonalda Cave is an Aboriginal site of high significance to Mirning custodians and other Far West Coast Aboriginal people. The site is a determined Aboriginal site under the Act, as well as being recognised and protected under Commonwealth law, for its outstanding heritage values.

Consultation and submissions

Prior to any authorisation being granted under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consider the views of the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, Traditional Owners, and any other interested Aboriginal parties. Written and verbal submissions are now invited if you meet these criteria.

AAR is available to speak to you over the phone or meet with you if you would like to talk about the application and/or provide a submission.

Please contact AAR if you would like to arrange a meeting with AAR and the Applicant to discuss the Application.

See the following detailed information about this application, as well as other information provided by the Applicant:

• Consultation Information Pack (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Flyer (PDF, 759.6 KB)
• Koonalda Cave Conservation Management Plan(PDF, 1.9 MB)
• Codes and Standards - Australian Speleological Federation

The Department for Environment and Water has committed to following AAR’s Aboriginal Heritage Discovery Protocols (PDF, 197.7 KB) if heritage is discovered during Project works.

Submissions

If you are a Traditional Owner or an interested Aboriginal party, please consider making a submission.

When making a submission, consider and respond to the following questions:

1. Should the authorisation sought by the Applicant be granted? Why or why not?
2. If the authorisations is granted, what conditions (if any) should be imposed on it?
3. Will the Project provide you with any direct or indirect benefits (e.g. cultural, financial or personal)?
4. Are there any other matters the Minister should consider when deciding this application?

Consultation closed 5 July, 2025.

More information

Requests for feedback and/or requests for further information, or requests to be notified once a decision has been made, should be provided to:

AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
(08) 8363 8622

Joanne Fleer
Senior Project Officer (Heritage)
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation

Applicant:  Prof Amy Roberts

Application type: Sections 23 and 29(1)(b)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Minister), who is responsible for the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) (Act), has received an application for authorisations under the Act from Prof Amy Roberts of Flinders University (Applicant) to conduct destructive and non-destructive scientific analyses on 30 Aboriginal objects held in the South Australian Museum’s (SAM’s) collections, originally collected from the Upper River Murray region between Morgan and the South Australian border (Research Project).

The objects include examples of wooden boomerangs, shields, dishes, spears and other items.

Under the Act, authorisation under section 23 of the Act is required to damage, disturb or interfere with any Aboriginal site, object or remains. Authorisation is also required under section 29(1)(b) of the Act to remove an Aboriginal object from the state.

About the project:

The current application forms part of a broader collaborative research project between Flinders University and the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (RMMAC), with the cooperation of SAM. The broader project aims to better understand Australian Aboriginal ‘lifeways’ through a comprehensive study of fibre and wooden objects.

The Research Project seeks to satisfy the following four key aims:

• to determine how old the objects are
• to identify the types of wood used to create the objects
• to understand what the objects were used for
• to learn how the objects were manufactured/decorated.

Consultation:

Before considering whether to grant any authorisation under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee and any other Aboriginal parties that may have an interest in the matter.

Detailed information about this application, including a list of the objects can be found in the consultation information pack (PDF, 338.3 KB).

Submissions:

If you are a Traditional Owner or an interested Aboriginal party, please consider making a submission.

When making a submission, consider and respond to the following questions:

1. Should the authorisations sought by the Applicant be granted? Why or why not?
2. If the authorisations are granted, what conditions (if any) should be imposed on them?
3. Will the Research Project provide you with any direct or indirect benefits (e.g. cultural, financial or personal)?
4. Are there any other matters the Minister should consider when deciding this application?

Consultation closed Monday, 26 May 2025.

More information

Requests for feedback and/or requests for further information or to be notified once a decision has been made should be provided to:

AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
(08) 8429 9419

Mr Peter Kapiris
Senior Project Officer (Heritage)
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA 5001

Applicant: Ms Anne Sykes

Application area: The whole of the land comprising Lot 78 Narnu Bay Drive, Hindmarsh Island - an area of land extending north of the property into the Goolwa Channel (in the mouth of the Murray River), the road verge extending south of the property on Narnu Bay Drive, and the property boundary fencing.

Application type: Sections 21 and 23

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisations under sections 21 and 23 of the Act from Ms Anne Sykes in relation to the proposed construction of a new two-storey house at Lot 78 Narnu Bay Drive, Hindmarsh Island.

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal sites, objects or remains (heritage) and to damage, disturb and/or interfere with heritage.

About the project

The project would involve extensive ground disturbing works within a portion of the application area, including:

• excavation for footings, retaining walls, septic and holding tanks and a concrete driveway
• trenching for stormwater pipes, plumbing, electrical cables and other services
• soil backfilling and removal of excess soil or material from the application area
• installing rainwater tanks
• landscaping and irrigation systems
• other supporting works that may be reasonably necessary.

Known Aboriginal heritage

The application area is known to contain Aboriginal remains and intersects a small part of the Murray River (Meeting of the Waters), a significant Ngarrindjeri anthropological site. Further, Kumarangk (Hindmarsh Island), in its entirety, is a significant Ngarrindjeri anthropological site.

If granted, the authorisations would allow the applicant (subject to conditions) to excavate land to uncover, damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage to facilitate the project.

If authorisations are granted, the applicant advises she would use heritage consultancy firm Stenhouse Heritage to assist her in managing any heritage found in the application area with Ngarrindjeri Traditional Owners. The heritage consultant has developed an excavation method to assist with heritage management, including the removal of the remains during the project.

Consultation

Before granting any authorisation under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee and any other Aboriginal parties that may have an interest in the matter.

More detail about the application and the project, including maps can be found in the
consultation information pack (PDF, 3.2 MB).

Consultation closed Friday 28 February 2025.

More information

Requests for further information should be provided to:

AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
(08) 7424 6674 

Dr Stephen Muller
Senior Project Officer (Heritage)
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001

Applicant: South Australia Water Corporation (SA Water)

Application area: An area of land comprising some 52.5 hectares located near to Billy Lights Point, south of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula

Application type: Sections 21 and 23

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisations under sections 21 and 23 of the Act from SA Water in relation to the construction of its proposed desalination plant at Billy Lights Point, south of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal sites, objects or remains (heritage) and to damage, disturb and/or interfere with heritage.

About the project

The project involves the construction of a desalination plant - and associated infrastructure - that would secure long-term water supply for Eyre Peninsula residents and business.

This includes ground disturbing works and other supporting works for the construction of:

• a desalination plant
• marine intake pump station
• subsurface tunnels for pipes
• electricity transmission lines and water pipelines
• associated infrastructure and upgrades to existing infrastructure.

More information about the project is available on the SA Water website.

You can track SA Water's development application on the PlanSA website.

Known Aboriginal heritage

The application area intersects one Aboriginal site for which records are held on AAR's central archives.

AAR is also aware of other Aboriginal sites - including multiple fish traps, archaeological sites, and historic site and a restricted anthropological site - within 300m of the application area.

One of these archaeological sites is located approximately 3m outside of the application area.

Consultation and submissions

Before considering whether to grant the authorisations, section 13 of the Act requires the Minister to first consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee and any other Aboriginal parties he thinks may have an interest in the matter.

More detail about the application and the project can be found in the:

• consultation information pack (PDF, 6.5 MB)
• consultation notice (PDF, 1.8 MB)
• detailed application area maps (prepared by SA Water) (PDF, 4.4 MB)

In addition to its own proposed management measures, SA Water has committed to following AAR's Aboriginal Heritage Discovery Protocols (PDF, 154.0 KB) and Heritage Impact Procedure (PDF, 257.4 KB) if heritage is discovered during project works.

An Aboriginal Community consultation meeting was held for Traditional Owners and any other interested Aboriginal people and organisation on 16 December 2024 in Port Lincoln.

Consultation closed Monday, 3 February 2025.

More information

Requests for further information should be provided to:

Mr Peter Kapiris
A/Principal Project Officer (Heritage), AAR
GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA 5001

Email: AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8429 9419

Applicant: Urban Renewal Authority (Renewal SA)

Application area: The area comprising the former West End Brewery at 107 Port Road Thebarton South Australia, and bound by Port Road, Anderson Street, Walsh Street, Cawthorne Street, Holland Street and the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens).

Application type: Sections 21, 23 and 29(1)(b)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisation from Renewal SA to enable the re-development of land at Thebarton (former West End Brewery).

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal sites, objects and/or ancestral remains (together, heritage) and to damage, disturb and/or interfere with heritage.

Further, authorisation under section 29(1)(b) has been sought to allow, should Kaurna Traditional Owners support it, radiocarbon dating of heritage samples, which would require their removal from the state to suitable testing facilities interstate or overseas.

About the project

The project proposes around 1300 new homes with at least 20% affordable housing.

Renewal SA describes it as ‘mixed use development’ that will include commercial, hospitality and retail tenancies.

Approximately 20% of the area, including the riverbank will be retained as open space.

Enhancement to the Karrawirra Pari will include improving public access, a shared use path and planting extensive native vegetation along parts of the river.

The Project would include excavation and ground disturbance associated with constructing foundations for multi-storey apartment buildings, the creation of open spaces, planting of trees and installation of irrigation systems.

Further information about the Project is available on Renewal SA’s website.

Known Aboriginal Heritage

The north of the application area intersects with the boundary of the Karrawirra Pari, a site reported to Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation as the ‘Karrawirraparri (River Torrens) Kaurna Mythological Site’.

The Karrawirra Pari and its surrounds is of continuing cultural importance to the Kaurna people. There is no other recorded or known Aboriginal heritage within the application area, although, there is a potential for subsurface Aboriginal heritage to be discovered during ground-disturbing Project works.

If granted, the authorisations would allow the Applicant (subject to conditions) to damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage and to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal heritage.

It would also allow Aboriginal heritage discovered during Project works to be removed from the state for testing or analysis if requested by Kaurna Traditional Owners.

Consultation and submissions

Prior to any authorisation being granted under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consider the views of the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, Traditional Owners, and any other interested Aboriginal parties.

More detail about the application and the project can be found in the:

• Consultation pack (PDF, 2.6 MB)
• Consultation notice (PDF, 554.8 KB)

Renewal SA has developed a draft Cultural Heritage Management Plan with Kaurna representatives through Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation to help manage any potential heritage discoveries and impacts throughout the Project having regard to the cultural sensitivities of the area.

They have committed to following AAR’s Aboriginal Heritage Discovery Protocols (PDF, 154.0 KB) and Heritage Impact Procedure (PDF, 257.4 KB) if heritage is discovered during Project works and has incorporated them into its draft Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

More information about the Applicant’s proposed heritage management measures is included in the consultation information pack.

Consultation closed Friday, 10 January 2025.

More information

Requests for feedback and/or requests for further information or to be notified once a decision has been made should be provided to:

Joanne Fleer
Senior Project Officer (Heritage)
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA 5001

Email: AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8363 8622

Applicant: Mr Geoffrey Pope

Application: Proposed sale and potential removal of Aboriginal objects from the state

Application type: Sections 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisations under sections 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b) of the Act from Mr Geoffrey Pope (Applicant).

• Section 29(1)(a) makes it an offence to sell an Aboriginal object in South Australia without prior authorisation from the Minister.
• Section 29(1)(b) makes it an offence to remove an Aboriginal object from the state without authorisation.

The Applicant seeks the authorisations so that he can sell 49 lots of objects, which in the opinion of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (AAR), include Aboriginal objects, and to remove them from the state if required for their sale.

About the objects

The objects are made either of stone or wood. The Applicant advises that he acquired most of them in South Australia between 1965 and 1976. His collection also includes objects acquired from the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.

It is likely that some objects originated from places other than where they were acquired.

South Australia

• Andamooka
• Avenue Range
• Barton
• Beachport
• Coopers Creek
• Coorong
• Flinders Ranges
• Kaltjiti / Fregon
• Gawler Ranges
• Hall Bay
• Hunchee
• Lake Frome
• Lameroo
• Lucindale
• Millicent
• Moonta
• Murray's Lagoon (Kangaroo Island)
• Nalyappa
• Nappers Bridge
• Nonning Gorge/Station
• Oraparinna
• South East region
• Tumby Bay
• Wallaroo
• Wirreandra Creek
• Wirulla
• Woomera.

Interstate

• Mparntwe / Alice Springs (NT)
• Carnegie (WA)
• Central Australia (general)
• the Kimberly region (WA)
• Queensland (general)
• Mount Isa (QLD)
• Tennant Creek (NT)
• Victoria (general).

Consultation and submissions

Before considering whether to grant the authorisations, section 13 of the Act requires the Minister to first consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee and any other Aboriginal parties he thinks may have an interest.

Written and verbal submissions are now invited from parties who satisfy these requirements.

More detail about the application and the objects can be found in the:

• consultation information pack (PDF, 4.1 MB)
• consultation notice (PDF, 177.2 KB)

If you are an interested Aboriginal party, consider answering the following questions:

1. In your view, do any of the 49 lots contain Aboriginal objects within the meaning of the Act? If so, which lots?
2. Should the authorisations sought be granted to the Applicant? Why or why not?
3. If the authorisations are granted, what conditions, if any, should be imposed on them?
4. If the authorisations are not granted, what would you like to see happen to any Aboriginal objects within the lots?
5. What else should the Minister consider when deciding this application?

No public meeting will be held for this application, but AAR is available to answer any questions or provide further information before the consultation period closes.

Consultation closed Thursday 28 November 2024.

More information

If you want to learn more, lodge a submission or be notified of the Minister’s decision in this matter, contact:

Dr Stephen Muller
Senior Project Officer (Heritage), AAR
GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA  5001

Email: AAR.CIR@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 7424 6674

Applicant: Urban Renewal Authority trading as Renewal SA

Application areas: Two separate areas, comprising approximately 30 hectares, east and west of Lovelock Drive in Noarlunga Downs, approximately 30km south of Adelaide, South Australia

Application type: Sections 21, 23 and 29(1)(b)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisations under the Act from the Urban Renewal Authority trading as Renewal SA to enable the construction of a residential development at Noarlunga Downs, some 30 km south of Adelaide.

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal sites, objects and/or ancestral remains (together, heritage) and to damage, disturb and/or interfere with heritage.

Authorisation under section 29(1)(b) has been sought to allow, should Traditional Owners support it, radiocarbon dating of heritage samples, as this would require their removal from the state to suitable testing facilities interstate or overseas.

About the project

The residential development is one of 6 projects led by Renewal SA that promotes the government's A Better Housing Future plan, which aims to deliver more social and affordable housing for South Australians.

The project would provide a significant number of high-quality houses for the state, which will be a mix of market, affordable and social housing, and contribute towards the targets in the Commonwealth Government's National Housing Accord.

The project would involve ground disturbing work including:

• stripping of vegetation and topsoil
• earthworks to achieve required surface levels
• excavation for the construction of stormwater management infrastructure, roads and kerbing
• trenching for services
• construction of residential housing, new roads, road connections, on-street parking and shared use paths/footpaths
• other supporting infrastructure and services.

Project works would also include landscaping, developing open spaces and establishing temporary compounds during construction.

Known Aboriginal heritage

The application areas are known to contain Aboriginal objects and a traditional burial site that is recorded on AAR's central archives. A small part of the historical floodplain of the Onkaparinga River (Ngangkiparri) - a reported Aboriginal site - also intersects one of the application areas.

If granted, the authorisations would allow the application (subject to conditions) to damage, disturb and/or interfere with Aboriginal heritage and to excavate land for the purposes of uncovering Aboriginal heritage.

Aboriginal heritage management

The applicant has developed a Cultural Heritage Management Plan with Kaurna representatives for managing known, as well as any discovered, Aboriginal heritage throughout the life of the project.

The applicant is currently undertaking a Ground Penetrating Radar assessment over most of the application areas to check for subsurface anomalies, which will subsequently involve archaeological test-pitting to confirm the presence or absence of heritage.

No archaeological uncovering or excavation of any heritage detected during test-pitting would be undertaken unless and until the authorisations are granted.

Consultation and submissions

Before granting any authorisation under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee and any other Aboriginal persons or bodies that may have an interest in the matter.

Consultation closed Friday 5 July 2024.

See the following detailed information about this application - including maps and information provided by the Applicant:

Consultation information pack (PDF, 6.2 MB)

In addition to its own proposed management measures, the applicant has committed to following AAR's Aboriginal Heritage Discovery Protocols (PDF, 154.0 KB) and Heritage Impact Procedure (PDF, 257.4 KB) if heritage is discovered during project works.

An Aboriginal Community consultation meeting about the application was held for Traditional Owners and any other interested Aboriginal parties on Thursday 20 June 2024.

Applicant:  The Urban Renewal Authority trading as Renewal SA

Application area: An area of land 17.08 hectares in size immediately south of Womma Road, east of Heaslip Road, and north of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh in Penfield

Application type: Sections 21, 23 and 29(1)(b)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisations under the Act from Renewal SA to impact Aboriginal heritage during construction of its proposed Deeper Maintenance and Modification Facility (DMMF).

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate, uncover, damage, disturb or interfere with Aboriginal sites, objects and/or ancestral remains.

Authorisation under section 29(1)(b) has also been sought to allow, should Traditional Owners request it, for radiocarbon dating to be undertaken on any discovered heritage, as this would require its removal from the state to suitable testing facilities interstate or overseas.

About the project

The project involves the construction of a facility within an area of land immediately south of Womma Road, east of Heaslip Road, and north of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh in Penfield.

The facility would be for the long-term maintenance and modification requirements of the Commonwealth Department of Defence’s Boeing 737 aircraft fleet next to RAAF Base Edinburgh.

The project would consist of ground-disturbing works associated with the construction of 4 aircraft hangars, warehouses, workshops, offices, and associated infrastructure and services. Landscaping and vegetation clearing is also proposed, as well as various works required to establish a temporary compound.

Known Aboriginal heritage

While Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation’s (AAR’s) central archives have no records of previously identified Aboriginal heritage within the application area, in April 2022 a cultural heritage survey conducted by Neale Draper & Associates (ND&A) and 4 Kaurna representatives identified 6 Aboriginal objects.

Aboriginal heritage management

The Applicant, in conjunction with ND&A, developed a draft Kaurna Cultural Heritage Management Plan (KCHMP), for managing known, as well as any discovered Aboriginal heritage, throughout the life of the project.

Should the authorisations be granted to the Applicant, the KCHMP will be updated in consultation with the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.

Consultation and submissions

Before granting any authorisation under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SAHC) and any other Aboriginal parties that may have an interest in the matter.

Consultation closed Friday 26 April 2024

See the following detailed information about the application prepared by AAR based on information provided by the Applicant:

Consultation Information pack (PDF, 8.3 MB)

An Aboriginal Community consultation meeting about the application was held for Traditional Owners and any other interested Aboriginal parties on Friday 12 April 2024.

Applicant: Walker Buckland Park Developments Pty Ltd

Application areas: Authorisations were originally sought over 2 separate areas located in Riverlea Park (formerly Buckland Park) approximately 30km north of Adelaide. In late October 2023, the applicant varied the application to include 3 additional areas of land within its existing development approval.

The 5 areas are located south of the Gawler River (Kadlitparri) and west of Port Wakefield Road

Application type: Sections 21, 23 and 29(1)(b)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs received an application for authorisations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 from Walker Buckland Park Developments Pty Ltd (the Applicant) to impact Aboriginal heritage during the construction of a large development at Riverlea Park (formerly Buckland Park) north of Adelaide.

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate, uncover, damage, disturb or interfere with Aboriginal sites, objects and/or ancestral remains.

Authorisation is also required under section 29(1)(b) to remove Aboriginal objects from the state. This includes for the purposes of undertaking analysis of Aboriginal objects at interstate research facilities.

About the project

As part of the development, ground-disturbing works are proposed to construct residential housing, retail and commercial areas, schools, sports fields, lakes, reserves, stormwater management, and for the installation of services.

Known Aboriginal heritage within the application area, as well as any discovered Aboriginal heritage, would be excavated and removed, if necessary, to enable these works.

Further information about the development, including an interactive masterplan map, is available on the Riverlea website.

An Environmental Impact Statement has also been prepared for the development, updated in April 2023. See a copy on the PlanSA website.

Aboriginal heritage

The application area contains extensive Aboriginal heritage, including:

• multiple Aboriginal ancestral burials
• archaeological sites
• culturally modified trees.

Consultation and submissions

Before granting any authorisation under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SAHC) and any other Aboriginal parties that may have an interest in the matter.

Consultation closed on Thursday 25 February 2024.

See the following updated information about the application - including updated maps, additional information provided by the Applicant and a consultation addendum (attachment 9).

Consultation information pack with new attachment 9 (amended 22 December 2023) (PDF, 11.5 MB)

Attachment 9 - Consultation Addendum (22 December 2023) (PDF, 277.2 KB)

Consultation notice (amended 22 December 2023) (PDF, 7.6 MB)

Updated Information - 16 February 2024

Riverlea Park Development Update - Letter to Consultees (16 February 2024) (PDF, 254.9 KB)

What happens next

Submissions will be forwarded to the Applicant for response. Once the public consultation period has closed, submissions and the Applicant's comments about them will be forwarded to the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee for its views.

AAR will then collate all feedback with its own recommendations to the Minister to help them make a final decision about the application.

Applicant: District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula

Application area: Two parcels of Crown land comprising the Poonindie Cemetery and a surrounding vacant paddock

Application type: Sections 21 and 23

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has received an application for authorisations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 from the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula to carry out upgrade works at the Poonindie Cemetery, some 17 km north of Port Lincoln.

Under the Act, authorisations under sections 21 and 23 are required to excavate, uncover, damage, disturb or interfere with Aboriginal sites, objects and/or ancestral remains (together, heritage).

About the project

The Poonindie Cemetery once formed part of the former Poonindie Mission, which was operated by the Church of England from 1850 to 1894. The former Poonindie Mission holds historical significance for many Aboriginal families across South Australia, and potentially other parts of Australia, who have historical connections to the mission, and/or whose ancestors may be buried at the cemetery.

The Council proposes to carry out upgrade works, including ground-disturbing works, within the application area.

These works would involve:

• removing an existing fence and installing a new rabbit-exclusion fence and entrance gate
• creating a new gravel parking area and access track from the parking area to Cemetery Close
• installing a shelter with a concrete floor, bench seats, and information signs
• planting native trees around parts of the cemetery, parking area and access track
• repairing warrens and depressions using soil sourced from other areas within the local council
• laying gravel to define designated walking paths as well as laying gravel over possible burials in a contrasting colour so they are easily identified
• any additional works that may reasonably be required to complete the project.

Aboriginal heritage management

The Poonindie Cemetery is listed as an Aboriginal heritage site on Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation’s (AAR’s) central archives.

The District Council released a draft Poonindie Cemetery Management Concept Plan, which outlines the project, for council-wide consultation between 22 November and 14 December 2022. A copy of the draft plan is available on the council's website.

Despite the project being conservation-oriented, the council acknowledges that the works are proposed within an Aboriginal site, and therefore interference with that site may be inevitable. On this basis, the council sought authorisations to avoid any inadvertent breach of the Act in delivering the project.

To help identify and avoid the many unmarked burials in the Poonindie Cemetery during project works, the council engaged Flinders University to carry out a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) assessment over parts of the application area in September 2022. See the GPR assessment results on the council's website.

Consultation and submissions

Before granting any authorisation under the Act, section 13 requires the Minister to consult with Traditional Owners, the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee and any other Aboriginal persons or bodies that may have an interest in the matter.

Consultation closed on Thursday 22 February 2024.

See the following detailed information about the application prepared by AAR based on information provided by the Applicant:

Consultation Information Pack (PDF, 3.5 MB)

Consultation Notice (PDF, 1.6 MB)

An Aboriginal Community consultation meeting was held for Traditional Owners and any other interested Aboriginal parties on Thursday 8 February 2024.

What happens next

Submissions will be forwarded to the Applicant for response. Once the public consultation period has closed, submissions and the Applicant's comments about them will be forwarded to the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee for its views.

AAR will then collate all feedback with its own