Product Overview

Summary: This Heritage Management Standard Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for identifying, assessing, and managing heritage values across Australian projects. It helps organisations meet planning and legislative obligations while protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage, built heritage, and historical sites in a consistent, respectful, and defensible way.

The Heritage Management Standard Operating Procedure is designed for Australian organisations that interact with culturally or historically significant places, objects, and landscapes. Whether you are delivering infrastructure, property development, mining, utilities, or local government works, this SOP provides a repeatable process to identify heritage constraints early, consult appropriately, and integrate heritage controls into day‑to‑day operations and project delivery. It bridges the gap between high‑level legislative requirements and the practical steps your teams need to follow on the ground.

This document sets out how to recognise potential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage, built heritage, archaeological sites, and other places of significance before works commence, and what to do if unexpected finds occur during construction. It clarifies roles and responsibilities, embeds consultation and approvals into project timelines, and ensures that records, permits, and decisions are documented in a way that stands up to regulatory and community scrutiny. By implementing this SOP, your business can reduce the risk of project delays, legal non‑compliance, reputational damage, and conflict with Traditional Owners and local communities, while demonstrating genuine commitment to heritage protection and reconciliation.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, defensible heritage management practices across all projects and sites.
• Reduce the risk of stop‑work orders, legal action, and costly redesigns due to unmanaged heritage issues.
• Strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and other stakeholders through structured consultation.
• Integrate heritage assessment and approvals into project planning, avoiding last‑minute surprises and delays.
• Improve record‑keeping and auditability for heritage decisions, permits, and site investigations.

Who is this for?

• Project Managers
• Environmental and Heritage Managers
• Town Planners
• Construction Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Civil and Infrastructure Engineers
• Property and Asset Managers
• Local Government Officers
• Mining and Resources Project Leads
• Consulting Archaeologists and Heritage Advisors

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Objectives
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Heritage (Aboriginal, built, archaeological, natural)
• 3.0 Legislative and Regulatory Framework (Commonwealth, State and Territory)
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 5.0 Heritage Risk Screening and Early Project Planning
• 6.0 Desktop Assessments, Field Surveys and Specialist Engagement
• 7.0 Consultation with Traditional Owners and Stakeholders
• 8.0 Approvals, Permits and Consent Processes
• 9.0 Site Inductions and Communication of Heritage Requirements
• 10.0 Procedures for Known Heritage Sites and No‑Go Zones
• 11.0 Unexpected Finds and Stop‑Work Protocol
• 12.0 Integration with Construction and Maintenance Activities
• 13.0 Documentation, Mapping and Record‑Keeping Requirements
• 14.0 Monitoring, Audit and Compliance Checks
• 15.0 Incident, Breach and Non‑Compliance Management
• 16.0 Training, Awareness and Continuous Improvement
• 17.0 References, Related Documents and Forms

Legislation & References

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth)
• Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance
• State and Territory Aboriginal heritage and cultural heritage legislation (e.g. Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (VIC), Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (WA), Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (QLD))
• Heritage Act 1977 (NSW) and equivalent State and Territory heritage legislation
• AS ISO 14001: Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use