Yued Corporation signs heritage agreement with NBN Co

The Yued Aboriginal Corporation has signed a Heritage Protection Agreement with telco giant NBN Co for 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.

“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,” Rewi Lyall, Chief Executive Officer of Yued Aboriginal Corporation, said.

Cultural landscape

“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.”

The Agreement, the corporation said, was a pragmatic, commercial agreement that establishes the processes by which consideration is given to activities planned by project proponents.

First steps of the journey

Under it, proponents can submit their planned Activity Notice to be considered by the Yued Aboriginal Corporation’s Cultural Advice Committee.

“By working on the Yued Cultural Heritage Agreement NBN Co 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,” a spokesman for NBN Co said.