Woollahra Council Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment

Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment for Woollahra Council

If Woollahra Municipal Council has asked you to provide an Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment, it means your development is in an area where there may be some level of Aboriginal heritage sensitivity, but a full Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment (AHIA) has not been deemed necessary at this stage.

A Due Diligence Assessment provides Council with the information it needs to confirm that your proposed works are unlikely to harm Aboriginal objects and that you have met your legal obligations under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Need an Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment?

1300 931 796

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What Is a Woollahra Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment?

A Due Diligence Assessment is a streamlined investigation used to determine:

Whether Aboriginal objects are present or likely to be present
Whether your proposal could harm them
What steps can be taken to avoid or minimise harm

It follows the Due Diligence Code of Practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects in NSW (2010) and reflects the expectations outlined in Woollahra DA Guide – Attachment 10. This assessment helps ensure that both you and Council comply with the legal protections of the NPW Act, which makes it an offence to knowingly or unknowingly harm Aboriginal heritage.

What the Due Diligence Assessment Includes

A Woollahra-specific Due Diligence Assessment typically involves:

1. AHIMS Search

A current search (within 3 months) with a minimum 200m buffer around the site.

2. Environmental & Historical Review

Assessment of landforms and past land use to determine whether the landscape is conducive to Aboriginal occupation or site formation.
This includes:

Sandstone outcrops
Caves, platforms, and overhangs
Watercourses or former water features
Ridgelines or elevated land
Areas known to contain artefacts

3. Site Inspection

A field inspection may be undertaken to assess surface conditions, disturbance, and the presence of any visible Aboriginal objects.

4. Impact Evaluation

Analysis of whether the proposed works may harm known or potential Aboriginal features and identification of practical avoidance measures.

5. Clear Recommendations

The report will outline:

Whether harm is likely
Whether impacts can be avoided
Whether further assessment (such as an AHIA) is necessary
Actions to ensure compliance with the NPW Act and Woollahra LEP 2013.

How Due Diligence Supports Your DA

Providing a Due Diligence Assessment ensures:

Your DA meets Woollahra Council’s request
You have taken all reasonable steps to identify and avoid heritage harm
You retain a legal defence if unexpected Aboriginal objects are discovered during construction (NPW Act s86(2))
You reduce the likelihood of the Council requesting additional information later and delaying your project.

How Talking Walls Helps When Council Requests Due Diligence

Talking Walls Heritage Consultants specialises in Woollahra’s landscape, planning controls, and heritage requirements. We provide:

Council-compliant Due Diligence Assessments
Clear findings and practical solutions to avoid harm
Fast turnaround to prevent DA delays
Advice on whether a deeper level of analysis is beneficial
Optional extension of the assessment (if required) to demonstrate that harm can be avoided, potentially avoiding the need for an ACHAR, or AHIP
We are based down the road at Surry Hills, so our consultants can conduct site visits at a moment’s notice.
Assessment turnaround is generally less than five business days, perfect when Council has stipulated a 14-day deadline to provide further information.