nbn Co and Yued Aboriginal Corporation sign heritage protection agreement

Media statement

nbn Co Ltd and Yued Aboriginal Corporation have executed a Yued Heritage Protection Agreement for the infrastructure company’s activities on Yued Boodja.

With plans afoot to upgrade telecommunications links across the Yued Agreement Area, nbn Co’s commitment to avoiding or minimising impact to Yued cultural heritage has been welcomed by Yued Aboriginal Corporation.

The Yued Heritage Protection Agreement (YHPA) is a pragmatic, commercial agreement that establishes the processes by which consideration is given to activities planned by project proponents.

Under a YHPA, proponents submit their planned Activity Notice which is considered by YAC’s Cultural Advice Committee (CAC). The CAC then provides advice to YAC’s management team on how to best ensure that cultural heritage is identified and protected.

Comments attributable to Rewi Lyall, Chief Executive Officer, Yued Aboriginal Corporation

“nbn Co has demonstrated it understands that working with Yued Aboriginal Corporation to protect Yued cultural heritage is an essential part of doing business safely on Yued Boodja for anyone engaged in ground disturbing works.

“Not all ground disturbance requires a heritage survey, or even monitoring.

“The safest course of action is to talk about it with us. We’re not interested in, standing over your shoulder while you maintain your drains.

“But we do want to help you to understand the cultural landscape and identify risks that can be avoided.”

Comments attributable to an nbn Co Ltd spokesperson:

“By working on the Yued Cultural Heritage Agrerement nbn and Yued are taking the first steps on a journey that will connect people and power progress in the Yued region while respecting First Nations culture and protecting country.”

Download: Yued media statement (PDF 266KB)