Every year, the Australian Government requests nominations for the National Heritage List. This database recognises natural, historic and Indigenous places of outstanding significance to Australia’s identity. From celebrations to sorrows, listed locations represent key moments throughout our nation’s development. As well as being preserved through special agreements with state and territory governments, First Nations landowners and non-indigenous landowners, these places are protected by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Under this national legislation, the Minister for the Environment must approve any action that may have a substantial effect on the national heritage values of a listing. With the threat of mining interests encroaching on the Binthi Warra’s cultural and natural values, we are concerned for the future of our cherished community, traditions and ecosystem. To conserve our unique Country, Binthi Land Holding Group Aboriginal Corporation (BLHGAC) is working to increase the footprint of our National Heritage List nomination. This project is being generously supported and funded by the Queensland Government’s Cape York Heritage Assessment Grant Program.
What We Aim To Achieve
Binthi Country extends to Cocoa Creek and Bridge Creek, south of Redbank, within the McIvor River and Morgan River catchments north of Cooktown, and near Hope Vale on the Cape York Peninsula – bubu (land) that comprises various native title, shire and tenure arrangements.
In an effort to safeguard all corners of our Country, BLHGAC is striving to expand our National Heritage List nomination so that it encompasses neighbouring Traditional Owners’ areas with their consent. These Guugu Yimithirr Nation clans have shown interest in the National Heritage List and wish to learn more about its nomination process.
Collaborating With Our Community
BLHGAC will hold meetings and workshops with Binthi Warra bama (people) and surrounding clans to create an agreement for progressing with the updated National Heritage List nomination. This agreement will be based on free, prior and informed consent and developed in line with legal advice.
2000. Ngurrgarr (red tailed cockatoo) gurra Waandarr (sulphur crested white cockatoo). Guugu Yimithirr Nation’s moiety totems. © Roy McIvor.
Our project is also supporting the production of publicity tools and resources to foster community engagement, such as brochures, flyers, posters and a new, more informative BLHGAC website.
Fulfilling The National Heritage List Criteria
There are no barriers to National Heritage List nomination – anyone can put forward a place with heritage value.
However, once a nomination is received, The Australian Heritage Council will assess each place against nine criteria. To secure a listing, this place must have ‘outstanding heritage value’ to the nation because it:
- Played an integral role in the course, or pattern, of Australia’s natural or cultural history;
- Is the site of unusual, rare or endangered elements of Australia’s natural or cultural history;
- May hold information that will add to our knowledge of Australia’s natural or cultural history;
- Features the principal traits of a class of Australia’s natural or cultural places or environments;
- Showcases certain aesthetic qualities valued by a community or cultural group;
- Demonstrates a high level of creative or technical skill at a specific time;
- Has a a strong or unique social, cultural or spiritual association with a specific community or cultural group;
- Maintains a special connection with the life or works of a particular person or group of interest to Australia’s natural or cultural history; or
- Is important to Indigenous tradition.
In addition to these criteria, the Council will consider a ‘significance threshold’, whereby the importance of the place’s heritage value will be compared to that of other similar places. To reach the accepted threshold, its heritage values must be exceptionally significant to the Australian nation as a whole.
On advice from the Council, the Minister for the Environment then chooses which places will be evaluated for potential inclusion on the 2022-2023 Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL).
BLHGAC has been selected for this list, reaching a major milestone in the National Heritage listing nomination process.
Donate To Empower The Binthi Warra Today
Together, we can make a lasting difference to our Country. Help us to preserve our unique culture, environment and social wellbeing by donating here or volunteering for future generations.
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