Introduction

1.1 Background and purpose

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the Commonwealth agency responsible for coastal aids to navigation (AtoN). AMSA’s network includes Cape Sorell Lighthouse built in 1899.

Section 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) requires AMSA to prepare a management plan for Cape Sorell Lighthouse that addresses the matters prescribed in Schedules 7A and 7B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Cth) (EPBC Regulations). The principal features of this management plan are:

  • a description of the place, its heritage values, their condition and the method used to assess its significance
  • an administrative management framework
  • a description of any proposals for change
  • an array of conservation policies that protect and manage the place
  • an implementation plan
  • ways the policies will be monitored and how the management plan will be reviewed.

AMSA has prepared this heritage management plan to guide the future conservation of the place. This plan provides the framework and basis for the conservation and best practice management of Cape Sorell Lighthouse in recognition of its heritage values. The policies in this plan indicate the objectives for identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the Commonwealth heritage values of the place. Figure 2 shows the basic planning process applied.

Figure 2. Planning process applied for heritage management (Source: Australia ICOMOS, 1999) Figure 2. Planning process applied for heritage management (Source: Australia ICOMOS, 1999)

1.2 Heritage management plan objectives

The objectives of this heritage management plan are to:

  • protect, conserve and manage the Commonwealth heritage values of the Cape Sorell Lighthouse.
  • interpret and promote the Commonwealth heritage values of the Cape Sorell Lighthouse.
  • manage use of the Lighthouse.
  • use best practice standards, including ongoing technical and community input, and apply best available knowledge and expertise when considering actions likely to have a substantial impact on Commonwealth heritage values.

In undertaking these objectives, this plan aims to:

  • Provide for the protection and conservation of the heritage values of the place while minimising any impacts on the environment by applying the relevant environmental management requirements in a manner consistent with Commonwealth heritage management principles.
  • Take into account the significance of the region as a cultural landscape occupied by Aboriginal people over many thousands of years.
  • Recognise that the site has been occupied by lease holders since the early 20th century.
  • Encourage site use that is compatible with the historical fabric, infrastructure and general environment.
  • Record and document maintenance works, and changes to the fabric in the Cape Sorell Lighthouse fabric register.

The organisational planning cycle and associated budgeting process is used to confirm requirements, allocate funding and manage delivery of maintenance activities. Detailed planning for the AtoN network is managed through AMSA’s internal planning processes.

An interactive map showing many of AMSA’s heritage sites, including Cape Sorell Lighthouse, can be found at AMSA Heritage Lighthouses Interactive Map1.

1.3 Methodology

The methodology used in the preparation of this plan is consistent with the  recommendations of The Burra Charter and with the requirements of Chapter 5, Part 15 Division 1A of the EPBC Act. In particular, the plan:

  • details the history of the site based on information sourced from archival research, expert knowledge, and documentary resources,
  • provides a description of the site based on information sourced from site inspection reports and fabric registers, and
  • details the Commonwealth heritage criteria satisfied by Cape Sorell as set out in schedule 7A of the EPBC Regulations. 

The criterion set out at Schedule 7A (h) (i-xiii) informed the development of the required policies for the management of Cape Sorell Lighthouse, in conjunction with input from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment on best practice management.

Consultation

The draft management plan is required to be advertised in accordance with the EPBC Act and the EPBC Regulations and any comments received are to be incorporated into the final document.

In the process of preparing the plan, AMSA engaged with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service who provided general feedback on the plan. AMSA sought engagement with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (Burnie Office) under the direction of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Tas (Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania). A response is yet to be received, and this section will be updated to reflect progress with these consultations.

A developed draft is to be submitted to the Federal Minister through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment where the Minister’s delegate will seek advice from the Australian Heritage Council.

1.4 Status

This plan has been adopted by AMSA in accordance with Schedule 7A (Management plans for Commonwealth Heritage places) and Schedule 7B (Commonwealth Heritage management principles) of the EPBC Regulations to guide the management of the place and for inclusion in the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

1.5 Authorship

This plan has been prepared by AMSA. At the initial time of publication, the Australian Maritime Systems Group (AMSG) is the contracted maintenance provider for the Commonwealth Government’s AtoN network including Cape Sorell Lighthouse.

1.6 Acknowledgements

AMSA acknowledges the professional assistance of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania).

1.7 Language

For clarity and consistency, some words in this plan such as restoration, reconstruction and preservation, are used with the meanings defined in the Burra Charter. (See Appendix 1 Glossary of heritage conservation terms).

Also see Appendix 2 Glossary of lighthouse terminology relevant to Cape Sorell which sets out the technical terminology used in this plan.

1.8 Previous reports

  • A Heritage Lighthouse Report was generated by Peter Marquis-Kyle in 2006 for AMSA.2
  • A Heritage Asset Condition Report (3rd Revision) was generated by AMSG in 2020 for AMSA.3

 1.9 Sources of information and images

This plan has used a number of sources of information. This includes the National Archives of Australia (NAA), the National Library of Australia (NLA) and AMSA’s heritage collection. 

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Footnotes

1 AMSA Interactive heritage lighthouse map, Google, (2019), https://www.operations.amsa.gov.au/lighthouses/?_ga=2.236400321.1108408984.1535497123-1996646104.1535497123    

2 Marquis-Kyle, P., Heritage Lighthouse Report: Cape Sorell, AMSG, (2006).

3 ‘Cape Sorell Lighthouse: Heritage Asset Condition Report, 2nd Revision, AMSG (2019).

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