Aboriginal sites include items and remnants such as stone tools, weapons, engraving sites, midden deposits, scarred trees and sharpening grooves. Aboriginal places include natural features such as creeks or mountains, as well as initiation, ceremonial or story places or areas of more contemporary cultural significance, such as Aboriginal Missions and post contact sites.
Aboriginal people are the cultural owners and managers of information relating to their heritage.
People who are given information about Aboriginal history and heritage by members of any Aboriginal community must treat it with respect. Confidentiality agreements between Aboriginal people and those receiving the information should be honoured. The principal laws which deal with Aboriginal heritage in New South Wales are the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, the National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Heritage Act. Aboriginal heritage is a value which should be assessed when determining land use. Section 90 of the Act lists impacts which must be considered before development approval is granted.