About the mapping platform for strategic planning
The platform provides information on important Aboriginal cultural heritage landscapes in Victoria.
The platform also has other cultural landscape values provided by the Registered Aboriginal Party.
It has been created so that strategic planners and developers have greater awareness of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the early stages of strategic planning. This will improve the strategic planning process and strengthen protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage during development.
Areas covered in the map
The platform contains maps for three areas in Victoria:
- Dja Dja Wurrung Country covering central Victoria, stretching from the area around Daylesford in the south, to Bendigo and surrounds in the north.
- Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne and surrounding areas, stretching up to Mount Macedon and Lancefield.
Find out about other layers included in the platform to help with strategic planning.
How the maps of important cultural heritage landscapes were created
The maps were created in collaboration with 3 Registered Aboriginal Parties:
- DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation)
- Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
The parties developed and led research to identify important cultural heritage landscapes on Country as part of the strategic Aboriginal heritage assessment (SAHA) pilot project.
Who this platform is for
The platform is intended for strategic planners and developers who are engaged in the planning process in Victoria. Anyone can access the platform.
How do I use the platform?
The platform allows you to search an area to determine if your development falls within an important cultural heritage landscape.
When you click on a landscape, a pop-up box will provide more information, including ways to consult with the Registered Aboriginal Party.
Other layers in the platform can be used with your own data, and any maps created can be downloaded.
Areas of cultural heritage sensitivity, important cultural heritage landscapes and other cultural landscape values
Areas of cultural heritage sensitivity are defined under the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018 (the Regulations). Together with defined high impact activities, they decide when a cultural heritage management plan (CHMP) must be prepared.
Areas of cultural heritage sensitivity generally describe landforms and features where Aboriginal cultural heritage is more likely to exist. The CHMP process determines if Aboriginal places are present, and if so, their significance.
Important cultural heritage landscapes are areas of Victoria of high significance to Aboriginal people. These landscapes are shown on the mapping platform and should be considered early in the strategic planning process.
Important cultural heritage landscapes may also exist in areas of cultural heritage sensitivity, however they are not defined under the Regulations and so do not decide where CHMPs must be prepared.
If your planned project is not in an important cultural heritage landscape you must separately establish if your project is in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity and whether a CHMP is required.
Other cultural landscape values are further landscape features that should be considered in more detailed planning.
Why Aboriginal cultural heritage landscapes matter
The important cultural heritage landscapes shared on the mapping platform tell the story of the occupation of Victoria by thousands of generations of Aboriginal people. These landscapes acknowledge the way people lived and engaged with the land.
They record ancient, historic and contemporary associations incorporating natural and cultural features and intangible heritage values.
Mapping these landscapes is important. They speak of the past and influence our future. By working together and considering Country early in strategic planning, there will be opportunities to collaborate and strengthen the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage during development.
Information shared in the map
| Layer | Description | Data source |
|---|---|---|
| Important cultural heritage landscapes | Shows the landscapes and advice provided by the relevant Registered Aboriginal Party, as well as their contact details. | First Peoples – State Relations |
| Other cultural landscape values | Shows other cultural landscape values provided by the Registered Aboriginal Party to consider in detailed planning. | First Peoples – State Relations |
| Areas of cultural heritage sensitivity | Shows areas of cultural heritage sensitivity as described in the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018. | First Peoples – State Relations |
| Precinct structure plans (PSPs) | Includes boundaries of all completed and current precincts (greenfield, regional and urban renewal), as well as future greenfield precinct structure plans. | Victorian Planning Authority |
| Local government areas | Shows the boundaries for local government areas. | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action |
| Bushfire and flood risk overlays | These layers include bushfire management overlays (BMO), floodway overlays (FO), rural floodway overlays (RFO) and land subject to inundation overlays (LSIO). | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action |
| Bioregional conservation status for ecological vegetation classes | Ecological vegetation classes (EVC) are the standard unit for classifying vegetation types in Victoria. The bioregional conservation status is a measure of the current extent and quality for each EVC, when compared to its original (pre-1750) extent and condition. | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action |
| Planning zones | Shows land use zones such as residential, industrial or rural for all Victorian planning schemes. | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action |
| Vicmap basemaps (cartographic) | Provides a state-wide map of roads, features of interest, localities, hydrology, land cover, property boundaries and cultural data. | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action |
Updated