Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 30317–33237

of such places that it owns or controls.

Since the site is listed as both a National and Commonwealth Heritage place, sections 324S and 341S of the EPBC Act requires that the Environment Minister make a plan to protect and manage the listed heritage values of the place. This requirement was first met in 2007 with the making of the Mawson's Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2007-12. Such plans are binding on the Commonwealth and Commonwealth agencies (sections 324U and 341V). Sections 324W and 341X require that these plans be reviewed at least once every five years. This current plan is the result of that review.

The EPBC Act (Chapter 2 Part 3 Divisions 1 & 2) prohibits any action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on a 'matter of national environmental significance'. A National Heritage place is one such matter of national environmental significance. In addition an action on Commonwealth land which is likely to have a significant impact on the environment, or an action taken elsewhere that is likely to have a significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, must be referred to DSEWPaC for approval under the Act. Mawson's Huts are situated on Commonwealth land (sections 27 and 525). 'Environment' is defined to include 'the heritage values of places' (section 528).

Any action relating to the site that is likely to have a significant impact should be referred to the Minister and may be subject to an environmental impact assessment. The Minister decides whether to approve the action, and what conditions to impose, after considering the assessment.

Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986

The Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 regulates the export of Australia's significant cultural heritage objects (potentially covering artefacts at or associated with Mawson's Huts Historic Site).

Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976

The Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 protects historic wrecks and relics in Commonwealth waters, extending from below the low water mark to the edge of the continental shelf.

Conservation Charters

Protection and conservation of the Mawson's Huts Historic Site is also guided by the principles in the following documents:

Venice Charter (The International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites)

Burra Charter, Australia ICOMOS 2004

ICOMOS International Wood Committee: Principles for Preservation of Historic Timber Structures

Conservation Plan - A Guide to the Preparation of Conservation Plans for Places of European Cultural Significance (Kerr 2000)

Significance 2.0: a guide to assessing the significance of collections (Russell and Winkworth 2009)

1.2.2 Agency Mechanisms

This management plan contains the primary policies and guidelines for the management of activities at the site. Conservation works at the site for each expedition are subject to individual environmental