CSIRO Black Mountain site Heritage Management Plan Invitation for Public Comment

Overview

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, is in the process of revising the Heritage Management Plan for the CSIRO Black Mountain site, located at 2–40 Clunies Ross Street, Acton, ACT. This initiative is under the purview of the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999. The purpose of this update is to incorporate feedback from the public, indigenous stakeholders, the ACT Government Agency responsible for the site, and other interested parties. The aim is to address any public concerns and perceptions about the site before a final draft is submitted to the Minister for Environment. The consultation period is open for public comment from 2 November 2023 to 30 November 2023, inviting interested parties to review the draft plan in person at the CSIRO Foundation Building 101 Reception or online via the CSIRO website. Written comments can be submitted by post or email to Helga Sousa, the Estate, Heritage, and Leasing Coordinator at CSIRO.

Scope and Application

The CSIRO Black Mountain site Heritage Management Plan, overseen by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in consultation with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, applies to the CSIRO Black Mountain site located at 2 – 40 Clunies Ross Street, Acton, ACT. This Act invites public comment from a broad range of stakeholders, including the general public, indigenous people with rights and interests in the place, the ACT Government agency responsible for the site, and any other organisations or groups with an interest in the property. This invitation extends to anyone who may have concerns or perceptions about the management of the heritage site. The consultation period is specifically designed to gather input before the preparation of a final draft for submission to the Minister for Environment, thus ensuring that the management plan is as inclusive and comprehensive as possible. This initiative is a part of the broader Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which governs the protection of heritage sites within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The CSIRO Black Mountain site Heritage Management Plan is currently under review, with CSIRO and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water inviting public comment on the draft version. The main operative sections of the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 (sections 128 and 129) require CSIRO to develop and submit a Heritage Management Plan for the site, which must address the conservation and management of the heritage values of the site. This plan is intended to ensure that any activities on the site do not adversely affect its heritage values, and must be submitted to the Minister for Environment for formal consideration. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. CSIRO and the Department must consult with various stakeholders, including the public, indigenous groups, the ACT Government, and any other organisations or groups with an interest in the site. They must also ensure that the Heritage Management Plan reflects the outcomes of these consultations and addresses any concerns raised. The Act also requires CSIRO to maintain and preserve the heritage values of the site, and to mitigate any adverse effects of its activities on these values. There are no specific offences, penalties, or consequences mentioned in the Gazette for non-compliance with the requirements of the Heritage Management Plan under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999. However, failure to adequately address the heritage values of the site could potentially lead to legal action under other provisions of the Act, or to regulatory action by the Minister for Environment. The penalties for breaches of the Act can be substantial, including fines of up to $666,000 for corporations and $133,000 for individuals, as well as imprisonment for up to five years. The consultation period for the draft Heritage Management Plan runs from 2 November 2023 to 30 November 2023, during which members of the public, indigenous groups, and other stakeholders can submit comments and feedback. The draft plan can be viewed at the CSIRO Foundation Building 101 Reception location in Acton, ACT, or online via the CSIRO website. Comments and enquiries can be submitted by post or email to the Estate, Heritage, and Leasing Coordinator at CSIRO. The deadline for submissions is 5.00pm AEST on 30 November 2023. In summary, the CSIRO Black Mountain site Heritage Management Plan is a key document under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999, which requires CSIRO and the Department to consult with various stakeholders and develop a plan to conserve and manage the heritage values of the site. Failure to comply with the requirements of the plan could potentially lead to legal action or regulatory action by the Minister for Environment. The consultation period for the draft plan is open from 2 November 2023 to 30 November 2023, and comments and feedback can be submitted via post or email to the Estate, Heritage, and Leasing Coordinator at CSIRO.