The aim of this project was to assist the Indigenous people of the Indjiladji and Didhani Native Title Claim Group in assessing the impact of the Gulf Communities Cable Project and associated activities with respect to any sites, places, locations or objects that have cultural, historical or spiritual significance. The proponents of the project were Network Design and Construction Ltd and Telstra.

The consultant was to draft, and have endorsed at a subsequent meeting of the Indigenous client group, a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the project, which would allow for implementation, inclusion of clearance processes, and monitoring of the earth disturbance associated with the Project where clearance was an issue.

The methods by which the project aims were achieved included: literature collection and analysis, review of previous interviews conducted by Paul Memmott with Aboriginal consultants in north-west Qld, review of previous reports on the Indjiladji and Kalkadoon prepared by Memmott and associates of the AERC and PMA, map preparation and fieldwork.

The consultant's brief was to draft an internal report to the Indigenous group in respect to the project's findings, and make written recommendations to the project proponent. These recommendations were required to:

• identify those parts of the nominated Project Area(s) which were: (a) given clearance by the Indigenous representatives; and (b) not given clearance by the Indigenous Representatives;
• identify any alternative nominated Project Area(s) for which clearance was to be given in lieu of the originally nominated Project Area(s);
• set out conditions to be applied to the Project including any cultural heritage management provisions;
• be signed by each participant who would verify that the WPC and report had been completed in accordance with the Agreement.

Figure: Brumby Creek Ochre Site, showing white ochre deposits. Photo: S. Long.