The Tasmanian Government is committed to ensuring the outstanding Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) are recognised, Environment Parks and Heritage Minister Matthew Groom said today.
Mr Groom said the Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council is currently leading a project to plan for a comprehensive Aboriginal cultural assessment of the TWWHA which would help to deliver on commitments agreed with the World Heritage Centre earlier this year.
“This project is underway, and as part of that quotations have been called for the development of a multi-year comprehensive plan that maps out how the overall project from cultural survey work to Aboriginal community consultation could be undertaken,” he said.
“This project is significant because it is about identifying everything from significant sites and landscapes, to how connections with the land and history can be identified.”
Mr Groom said the Government recognised the significance of the TWWHA to Aboriginal people with the Area containing heritage reflecting occupation dating back 35,000 years.
“We also recognise that these values are not just in the sites that the TWWHA contains but also the landscape, seascape and skyscape have incredible meaning and value as well.”
Mr Groom said the Comprehensive Aboriginal Cultural Assessment Plan for the TWWHA will include:
* A multi-year plan for Aboriginal cultural surveys of sites and landscapes
* Consultation strategy that will ascertain intangible cultural connections with the landscapes
* Community consultation on the survey plan
The Plan will be a major part of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ submission to the World Heritage Committee next year on work being undertaken to improve understanding of the Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the TWWHA.
Further details on the tender and documents are available at www.tenders.tas.gov.au
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