Delivering Approved Cultural Heritage Management Plans for the Renewable Energy Sector in Central Victoria
Venn Energy is a developer of large-scale solar and battery energy storage systems in Australia. The company is led by a senior management team with deep experience across renewable energy development and infrastructure delivery. The leadership team is supported by a strong, locally based in-house development group, working alongside specialist advisors and long-standing industry partners across planning, environment, grid, commercial and delivery disciplines. This model allows Venn Energy to combine experienced leadership with on-the-ground capability and specialist expertise across all aspects of project development.
The Cooba Solar Farm, proposed for a 1,147-hectare site near Colbinabbin in central Victoria, will deliver up to 500 MW of solar generation and a 300 MW Battery Energy Storage System, enough clean energy to power approximately 145,000 Victorian homes. For a project of this scale and ambition, a thorough and well-managed cultural heritage approvals pathway was essential.
Australian Cultural Heritage Management (ACHM) supported Venn Energy from early project scoping through to a fully approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan, providing cultural heritage risk identification, regulatory advice, Traditional Owner engagement and coordination of all required heritage assessments. Our field program covered the full 1,147-hectare project footprint, with 618 archaeological test pits excavated and 2,154 artefacts recorded across eight identified Aboriginal places.
The outcome gave Venn Energy a defensible basis for approvals and a clear, compliant framework for construction, demonstrating ACHM’s capability to deliver complex, large-area heritage programs for the growing renewable energy sector across eastern Australia.
Client
Venn Energy
Location
Colbinabbin, Victoria
Sectors
Energy
Services
Project Snapshot
Results Delivered
Delivering Approved Cultural Heritage Pathways for Solar and Battery Storage Infrastructure Projects
Thorough Traditional Owner engagement and a well-structured field program ensured the Cooba Solar Farm received planning approval from the Victorian Minister for Planning in June 2025, on schedule and with all heritage obligations fully satisfied. Australian Cultural Heritage Management gave Venn Energy a defensible basis for approvals and the confidence to move into construction without heritage-related delay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do renewable energy projects like solar farms require cultural heritage approvals in Victoria?
Yes. Solar farm developments in Victoria are classified as high-impact activities under the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018 where they involve significant ground disturbance across an area of cultural heritage sensitivity. In these cases, an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) is required before construction can commence. For the Cooba Solar Farm, a 1,147-hectare project near Colbinabbin, Australian Cultural Heritage Management delivered the full heritage approvals pathway, including cultural heritage risk identification, Traditional Owner engagement, an archaeological survey and test pit program across the entire project footprint, and an approved CHMP.
How does the cultural heritage assessment process work for a large solar farm development?
For a large solar farm, the cultural heritage assessment process typically begins with a desktop review of existing heritage records and a preliminary heritage risk assessment to identify areas of potential sensitivity within the project footprint. This is followed by a standard field survey and, where required, a complex assessment involving systematic subsurface testing across the project area. At the Cooba Solar Farm, Australian Cultural Heritage Management excavated 618 archaeological test pits and recorded 2,154 artefacts across eight Aboriginal places within the 1,147-hectare site. The results informed the management conditions included in the approved CHMP, providing Venn Energy with a defensible basis for approvals and a clear framework for managing cultural heritage during construction.
What are the heritage obligations for a solar farm developer during construction?
Once a CHMP is approved, a solar farm developer must comply with all management conditions set out in the plan throughout the construction phase. These typically include maintaining avoidance buffers around registered Aboriginal places, implementing an unexpected finds protocol, notifying the Registered Aboriginal Party of construction activities in heritage-sensitive areas, and providing access for monitoring or inspections as required. Non-compliance with CHMP conditions is an offence under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and can result in significant penalties and project delays. Australian Cultural Heritage Management supports construction teams through the implementation phase, providing on-site heritage monitors, compliance advice and liaison with Traditional Owner groups as required.
How early in a renewable energy project should cultural heritage assessment begin?
Cultural heritage assessment should begin as early as possible, ideally at the site selection or feasibility stage, before a preferred development footprint has been committed. Early heritage risk identification can influence site selection, inform project design, and help avoid areas of high sensitivity before significant investment has been made. It also allows time to properly engage Traditional Owner groups, which is both a legislative requirement and essential for building the trust needed for a smooth approvals process. Australian Cultural Heritage Management provides heritage risk advisory services at the earliest stage of renewable energy project development, helping proponents understand their obligations and manage cultural heritage risk with confidence, clarity and care.
What is a heritage predictive model and is it useful for solar farm site assessment?
A heritage predictive model uses landscape variables, such as proximity to water, soil types, landform characteristics and vegetation history, to estimate the likelihood of finding Aboriginal cultural heritage in a given area before fieldwork is undertaken. For large solar farm footprints, predictive modelling can help prioritise survey effort, identify high-risk zones requiring more intensive investigation, and inform cost and programme estimates early in the planning process. Australian Cultural Heritage Management uses GIS-integrated predictive modelling as part of our cultural heritage risk advisory service for major projects, including renewable energy developments across eastern and southern Australia. Learn more about our predictive modelling services.
