— Infrastructure

— Cultural Heritage

— Native Title Assessment

Toowoomba Regional Council asked Redleaf Group to conduct a cultural heritage assessment on a project in Highfields, replacing the Perseverance raw water main (RWM). Research and analysis was completed for the desktop report, reviewing databases, historical imagery and sources, and heritage registers. Risk mapping was done as a preliminary assessment before a field survey was conducted. The field survey found no heritage values within the project area, but highlighted areas with mature trees that potentially have Aboriginal cultural heritage subsurface. The area was categorised as Category 4 as per the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Duty of Care Guidelines, and recommendations were provided to the Council to avoid or monitor works in this area.

• Desktop review and register/database checks for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous cultural heritage
• Native Title register review, ILUA review, and compliance recommendations
• Cultural heritage risk categorisation (Duty of Care Categories 3–5) and mapping for works areas, remnant vegetation, and watercourses
• Protocols for exclusion zones, site-specific buffer distances (mature trees), and monitoring during high-risk ground disturbance
• Establishment and communication of finds procedure for accidental discoveries, in line with statutory guidelines and best practice