Aboriginal Landscape Assessment and Protection

Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

We have created a mapping product which identifies Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes and significant areas along the coastal fringe of the Coffs Harbour LGA where urban development is a major pressure.

This product aims to enable better protection through inclusion in the local planning processes such as Development Control Plans. Significant Aboriginal areas overlap with areas mapped for town growth in the Mid North Coast Regional Strategy.

The consultation process included an initial reference group of local and State government agencies and others, such as Coffs Harbour City Council, Northern Rivers CMA Support Officers , the then NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (now the Office of Environment and Heritage), the then Department of Planning (now the Department of Planning and Environment) and Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Land Council. This group identified the key Aboriginal communities in the area to be consulted, refined existing information and identified new information. An extensive consultation process was undertaken with key groups including:

  • Garby Elders
  • Garlimbirla Elders
  • Bagawa Birra Murri Elders
  • Gumbayngirr Corporation.

The project is an example of our capacity to run inclusive consultation projects with local Aboriginal communities and governmental agencies to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes in an effective manner.

Contacts