Permits and registers
Aboriginal heritage impact permits
An Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) is the statutory instrument that DECC issues under sections 87 and/or 90 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 to manage impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage objects and places.
Under s. 87 of the Act, an AHIP is required if an Aboriginal object is to be disturbed or moved, or land is to be disturbed for the purposes of discovering an Aboriginal object .
Under s. 90 of the Act, an AHIP is required if an Aboriginal object or Aboriginal place is to be destroyed, damaged or defaced.
For more information on AHIPs and the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage, please see Protecting Aboriginal objects and places.
Please see more information on how to apply for an AHIP.
Registers
DECC maintains information systems to manage cultural heritage information assisting the department and stakeholders such as private landholders, community groups, local councils, and state government agencies to locate, identify, conserve and interpret Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage values, sites and objects. These systems are the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) and the Historic Heritage Information Management System (HHIMS).
AHIMS contains details of Aboriginal objects, places and other heritage values across NSW. AHIMS also contains archaeological reports and site records that are unique and, in many cases, irreplaceable. AHIMS has operated since the 1970s, and as at July 2007 contained detailed information on 52,000 recorded sites and 8900 archaeological and other Aboriginal heritage reports.
AHIMS is used by government, industry and heritage professionals who need the information for land use planning, regulation and conservation management. It is also used by Aboriginal communities to help them manage, conserve and protect local sites and heritage. Some of the many reasons people and organisations require information from AHIMS is for natural resource management, cultural heritage assessments, archaeological surveys, development proposals, property purchases and oral history projects.
You can search AHIMS for details of Aboriginal objects, places and other heritage values across NSW or or call the AHIMS Administrator on 02 9585 6513 or 02 9585 6345 for further information.
HHIMS helps the Department meet its statutory obligations under the NSW Heritage Act 1977 and a subset of HHIMS data fulfils the role of DECC's ‘Heritage and Conservation Register’ under section 170 of the Act.
The system also supports a large reference collection of over 2000 reports and other literature from the 1960s onwards relating to the management of many of the sites listed on HHIMS.
HHIMS records information related to the interpretation and management of historic heritage on DECC-managed lands only.
HHIMS aids in the protection and management of these sites by maintaining and providing information concerning the nature, current status and location of sites. HHIMS information facilitates inquiries, supports site protection, enables better management and research and provides the secure protection of sensitive cultural and historical information.
As at July 2007, there were over 10,000 site records in HHIMS from around the state, including information on the 37 State Heritage listed sites managed by DECC.
Search HHIMS or contact the HHIMS Register at HHIMS@environment.nsw.gov.au for more information.