Delivering a Defensible Cultural Heritage Management Plan for a Great Ocean Road Foreshore Renewal
Colac Otway Shire is the local government authority for the Colac Otway region in south west Victoria, responsible for public land, community infrastructure and foreshore assets along one of the country’s most visited stretches of coastline.
The Apollo Bay harbour precinct sits at the heart of the township and carries significant cultural, environmental and economic value. Proposed foreshore redevelopment works required the Shire to establish, with certainty, what Aboriginal cultural heritage was present within the activity area and how it would be managed before any ground disturbance took place.
ACHM was engaged by Colac Otway Shire to undertake Complex Cultural Heritage Management Plan investigations for the proposed works, carried out in partnership with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation as the Registered Aboriginal Party for Country. Our team combined archaeological assessment with structured Traditional Owner engagement so that cultural values were understood on their own terms rather than treated as a compliance formality.
The result was a Cultural Heritage Management Plan built on evidence and relationships, giving the Shire a defensible basis for approvals and a clear set of management conditions to carry into design and construction.
Client
Colac Otway Shire
Location
Apollo Bay, Victoria
Sectors
Public Sector
Urban Regional Development
Services
Results Delivered
Delivering a Complex CHMP for a Landmark Great Ocean Road Foreshore Project
Working in close partnership with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Cultural Heritage Management undertook Complex Cultural Heritage Management Plan investigations for the proposed foreshore redevelopment works at Apollo Bay harbour, giving Colac Otway Shire a defensible basis for approvals ahead of construction. The outcome gave the Shire clear cultural heritage obligations and a working relationship with Traditional Owners to carry into design and delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a coastal foreshore redevelopment in Victoria require a Cultural Heritage Management Plan?
Yes, in most cases. Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, foreshore and coastal land is commonly mapped as an area of cultural heritage sensitivity, and works of this scale are classified as high impact activities, so an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan is required before construction can begin. For the Apollo Bay Harbour Redevelopment, a Complex CHMP was required due to the presence of Eastern Maar cultural heritage values within the foreshore precinct. Australian Cultural Heritage Management delivered the Complex CHMP investigations for Colac Otway Shire, working in partnership with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation to secure a defensible basis for approval. Learn more about our CHMP services.
What does a Complex CHMP assessment involve?
A Complex CHMP assessment combines desktop review, standard field survey and, where warranted, subsurface testing to determine the nature, extent and significance of any Aboriginal cultural heritage within the activity area. It is the most thorough level of assessment under Victoria’s Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and is required wherever a high impact activity coincides with an area of cultural heritage sensitivity. At Apollo Bay, Australian Cultural Heritage Management undertook this level of assessment for the harbour precinct, giving Colac Otway Shire clear management conditions to carry into design.
Why is Traditional Owner consultation important for council-led coastal projects?
Traditional Owner consultation is both a legislative requirement and the foundation of a defensible Cultural Heritage Management Plan. Registered Aboriginal Parties bring cultural knowledge that cannot be recovered through desktop research or survey alone, and their evaluation is what ultimately determines whether a CHMP is approved. For the Apollo Bay Harbour Redevelopment, Australian Cultural Heritage Management worked closely with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation throughout the assessment process, building a relationship the Shire could rely on beyond this single project.
How can local councils manage cultural heritage risk on public foreshore land?
Local councils can manage cultural heritage risk by commissioning a due diligence assessment at the earliest planning stage, well before design is finalised, so that any CHMP obligations are understood and programmed for rather than discovered mid project. Foreshore and waterway margins are frequently mapped as culturally sensitive, which makes early engagement particularly important for coastal councils. Australian Cultural Heritage Management regularly supports local government proponents with heritage due diligence and CHMP delivery across Victoria.
