Dalby Solar Farm

ACHM was engaged by FRV Services Australia Pty Ltd to undertake a comprehensive desktop cultural heritage assessment for the proposed Dalby Solar Farm in Queensland. The assessment reviewed all relevant Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage datasets, legislative requirements, past land use, environmental characteristics, and the broader archaeological context of the Western Downs region. 

The study area had undergone extensive agricultural and pastoral disturbance, qualifying it as a Category 4 activity under Queensland’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 Duty of Care Guidelines.

 

Renewable Energy Projects

ACHM’s renewables portfolio reflects our long‑standing role in supporting Australia’s transition to clean energy. We provide cultural heritage and approvals support across a wide range of large‑scale renewable energy developments, helping projects progress in a culturally responsible and technically robust way.

We have worked closely with Venn Energy on the Cooba Solar Farm in central Victoria—a major project comprising 500 MW of solar generation and a 300 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). Our role included cultural heritage risk identification, regulatory advice, Traditional Owner engagement, and the coordination of heritage assessments throughout the planning and approvals process.

ACHM has also contributed to Rio Tinto’s renewable energy transition, delivering baseline flora and fauna surveys on Banjima Country. These surveys were designed to inform future renewable infrastructure development, ensuring environmental, cultural heritage, and technical requirements were addressed early to support subsequent approvals.

More recently, we supported Fortescue in the planning of the North Star Junction West Solar Farm, a proposed 600 MW solar facility with future battery capability. Our team facilitated cultural heritage surveys, logistics, and Traditional Owner engagement to support culturally informed project design and minimise potential impacts.

Beyond these major projects, ACHM has supported the development of solar farms and BESS projects across regional Australia, including Ouyen, Cobram, Swan Hill, Finley, Glenrowan, Dalby, Sandigo, Kiamal, Mooroopna, Lake Kerang, Lake Fyans, The Basin, Wunghu, and Whyalla. We have also provided heritage advisory services for wind farm developments throughout southern Australia, including Mt Gellibrand, Yaloak, Keyneton, Cootamundra, Hexham, Hornsdale, Ben More, and Kiata.

Together, these projects demonstrate ACHM’s ability to guide renewable energy proponents through complex approvals processes—balancing cultural heritage responsibilities with practical, timely project delivery.

Cooba Solar Farm

ACHM has supported Venn Energy in the development of the Cooba Solar Farm, a large‑scale renewable energy project proposed for Colbinabbin in central Victoria. The Cooba Solar Farm will comprise up to 500 MW of solar generation and a 300 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), occupying part of a 1,147‑hectare site and generating enough clean energy to power up to 145,000 Victorian homes.

Our role involves working with Venn Energy through the project’s planning and approvals pathway by:

  • Providing cultural heritage risk identification during early project scoping.
  • Advising on regulatory requirements and heritage obligations that must be satisfied before construction.
  • Supporting Traditional Owner engagement, ensuring cultural values and knowledge inform project design.
  • Coordinating heritage assessments needed for the Development Approval and subsequent management plans.
  • Providing on-going advice to Venn Energy regarding agreement making with Traditional Owners.

FMG North Star Junction Solar Farm

ACHM were commisioned to undertake a large number of archaeological and ethnographic surveys for the Fortescue North Star Junction Solar Farm on behalf of the Kariyarra People.

 
The North Star Junction Solar Farm is a 100‑megawatt solar  facility developed by Fortescue, located approximately 145 kilometres south of Port Hedland. It forms a central component of the company’s renewable energy network.
 
The project incorporates nearly 200,000 solar panels to maximise daily energy yield, and it supports nearby operations such as the Iron Bridge magnetite mine by supplying clean, reliable power.

Kiamal Solar Farm

The Kiamal Solar Farm near Ouyen in north‑west Victoria is one of the state’s largest renewable energy projects, featuring more than 715,000 solar panels and delivering up to 350 MW of clean energy as part of Australia’s transition toward a sustainable future.

Developed by TotalEnergies Renewables Australia, the project includes advanced infrastructure such as a synchronous condenser to support grid stability and is located on over 500 hectares of land acknowledged as the Country of the First Peoples of the Millewa‑Mallee.

ACHM completed the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the Kiamal Solar Farm, providing the critical heritage assessments, fieldwork, and Traditional Owner collaboration required for the project’s approval and construction. Our work ensured compliance with Victorian Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation and supported culturally informed decision‑making throughout development.

Through respectful engagement and thorough heritage assessment, ACHM helped enable one of Victoria’s most significant renewable energy initiatives to proceed responsibly and sustainably.

Sandigo Solar Farm

ACHM completed an archaeological assessment and associated ACHAR as a component of the EIS for the 600ha Esco Pacific Sandigo Solar Farm in December 2017.

Yaloak Windfarm

ACHM partnered with Pacific Hydro over several years to support the development of the Yaloak Wind Farm through comprehensive cultural heritage management.

Across the project area, ACHM identified 76 discrete Aboriginal archaeological sites, reflecting the cultural richness and long-term occupation of the landscape.

Working collaboratively with Pacific Hydro, ACHM played a key role in shaping project design to avoid or minimise impacts on these places of significance. Following a series of layout refinements and heritage‑led design recommendations, 74 of the identified sites were successfully managed in situ, ensuring their preservation within the evolving renewable energy landscape.

Only two sites required salvage, undertaken through careful archaeological methodology and consultation processes.

ACHM’s work on the Yaloak Wind Farm demonstrates how renewable energy development and cultural heritage values can sypathetically co-exist.

Through early engagement, detailed field assessment, and practical redesign advice, ACHM helped Pacific Hydro advance a major clean energy project while safeguarding the integrity of Aboriginal cultural heritage across the Parwan Valley.

Mount Gellibrand Wind Farm

ACHM delivered extensive cultural heritage services for Acciona Energy at the 132 MW Mount Gellibrand Wind Farm, supporting project planning, assessments, and compliance.

Our work has included the preparation and implementation of multiple Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs) for the wind farm and its ancillary areas, 3D scanning of a stone arrangement, extensive archaeological salvages, heritage inductions and on-going management activities.

Beyond assessment, planning and compliance, ACHM has provided ongoing advisory and operational heritage support.

This has included resolving legacy coverage gaps, undertaking additional surveys where required, advising on compliance matters such as fencing audits, and coordinating the culturally appropriate repatriation of salvaged artefacts in consultation with Traditional Owners.

ACHM’s long-standing relationship with Acciona is built on technical accuracy, regulatory clarity, and a commitment to safeguarding cultural values while enabling efficient project delivery.