Assessment Process

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This page provides a simplified version of the assessment process. Each step contains the relevant information, forms and documents. 

For a detailed version of this process:

  Aboriginal Heritage Standards and Procedures   (842Kb)

Step 1. Conduct Property Search

Use the Aboriginal Heritage Property Search​ website or the Before You Dig Australia website to determine if your project activity may impact Aboriginal relics. ​​

 

Step 2. Response of Property Search

There are three possible responses from the Aboriginal Heritage Property Search website or the Before You Dig Australia website:

​1. No Aboriginal relics or apparent risk of impacting Aboriginal relics has been found 

Please save a copy of the search record and proceed with your project activity. 

Important, please note: if at any stage during the assessment process there is an unanticipated discovery of Aboriginal relics during your project activity, you must follow the Unanticipated Discovery Plan and report the find using the Site Reporting Form.

  Unanticipated Discovery Plan   (171Kb)
  Aboriginal Heritage Site Reporting Form   (139Kb)


2. There may be registered Aboriginal relics or a risk of impacting Aboriginal relics

Complete an Aboriginal Heritage Desktop Review Form and submit to aboriginalheritage@dpac.tas.gov.au.

  Aboriginal Heritage Desktop Review   (146Kb)


3. The search was not able to be processed automatically 

Contact Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania​ regarding your request. 


Step 3. Further Investigation

If your search resulted in an Aboriginal Heritage Desktop Review, Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania will advise one of the following options:

1. No further assessment is required

Please save a copy of this outcome and proceed with your project activity. 

Important, please note: if at any stage during the assessment process there is an unanticipated discovery of Aboriginal relics during your project activity, you must follow the Unanticipated Discovery Plan and report the find using the Site Reporting Form.

  Unanticipated Discovery Plan   (171Kb)
  Aboriginal Heritage Site Reporting Form   (139Kb)


2. An Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Report is required 

See Step 4 for further information. 

 

Step 4. Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Report

This assessment is required if your search has indicated that your project activity will impact Aboriginal relics.
 
An Aboriginal Heritage Practitioner must be engaged to assess your project activity and to produce an Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Report. 

To find an Aboriginal heritage practitioner see our list of consulting archaeologists and consulting Aboriginal Heritage Officers​.

Discuss with your chosen archaeologist whether you need to independently seek an Aboriginal Heritage Officer: ​

The Practicioner will use the Search Request Form to request information from Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania regarding previous heritage assessments and existing Aboriginal sites that fall within the project investigation area. The Aboriginal Heritage Practitioner will record any new heritage sites using the Aboriginal Heritage Site Recording Form prior to submitting an Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Report:

  Aboriginal Heritage Register Search Request   (147Kb)​

 Aboriginal Heritage Site Recording Form (DOCX 265Kb)



Step 5. Review of Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Report

Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania will review the report generated by the Aboriginal Heritage Practitioner. Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania will advise one of two outcomes from this report:

1. No permit is required 

Please request a written copy of this outcome and proceed with your project activity. 

Important, please note: if at any stage during the assessment process there is an unanticipated discovery of Aboriginal relics during your project activity, you must follow the Unanticipated Discovery Plan and report the find using the Site Reporting Form.

  Unanticipated Discovery Plan   (171Kb)
  Aboriginal Heritage Site Reporting Form   (139Kb)


2. A permit is required

You must submit a Permit Application Form to aboriginalheritage@dpac.tas.gov.au.

 Aboriginal Heritage Permit Application (DOCX 59Kb)​



Step 6. Permit Application

Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania and the Aboriginal Heritage Council will consider your permit application. The Director of National Parks and Wildlife will make a recommendation to the Minister. 

There are two outcomes from this recommendation:

1. The permit is granted by the Minister 

Your project activity may proceed. 

Important, please note: if at any stage during the assessment process there is an unanticipated discovery of Aboriginal relics during your project activity, you must follow the Unanticipated Discovery Plan and report the find using the Site Reporting Form.

  Unanticipated Discovery Plan   (171Kb)
  Aboriginal Heritage Site Reporting Form   (139Kb)


​​2. The permit is not granted 

Please contact Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania​ to discuss options.


Flowchart of Assessment Process

To assist in understanding this assessment process please find the following flowchart:

  Flowchart of Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Procedure (41Kb)

Please note: Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania administers legislation​ ​which ensures that Aboriginal cultural heritage must be considered as part of land development and land management activities throughout this assessment process.

Contact

Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania
GPO Box 123
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 1300 487 045
Email: aboriginalheritage@dpac.tas.gov.au

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