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 the Goose Island Lighthouse built in 1841-1846.

Section 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) requires AMSA to prepare a management plan for Goose Island 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
  • how the policies will be monitored and the management plan 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 Goose Island 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 Goose Island Lighthouse
  • interpret and promote the Commonwealth heritage values of the Goose Island Lighthouse
  • manage use of the lightstation
  • 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 Goose Island 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 Goose Island 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 aids to navigation network is managed through our internal planning processes. 

An interactive map showing many of AMSA’s heritage sites, including Goose Island Lighthouse, can be found on AMSA’s Interactive Lighthouse 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 a 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 Goose Island Lighthouse as set out by 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 Goose Island 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 sought engagement with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) under direction from the Office of Aboriginal Affairs (Tas).  AMSA also consulted with Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania (Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tas) and were provided with information on Aboriginal heritage in the vicinity of the lighthouse. This information was included in the plan. In preparation of the plan, AMSA consulted with TAS PWS who provided valuable historical information and feedback on land management. This information was included within the plan.

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) was the contract maintenance provider for the Commonwealth Government’s AtoN network including Goose Island Lighthouse.

1.6 Acknowledgements

AMSA acknowledges the professional assistance of TAS PWS, the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, and the Office of Aboriginal Affairs (Tas).

AMSA acknowledges the professional assistance of Dr. Robin Sim, Archaeologist.

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 Charter2. See Appendix 1 Glossary of heritage conservation terms.

Also see Appendix 2 Glossary of historic lighthouse terms relevant to Goose Island Lighthouse, which sets out the technical terminology used in this plan.

1.8 Previous reports

  • A Heritage Lighthouse Report was produced by Mr Peter Marquis-Kyle for AMSA in 20073.
  • A Heritage Asset Condition Report was produced by AMSG in 2016 (reviewed and updated 2019)4.

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), National Library of Australia (NLA) and AMSA’s heritage collection.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Footnotes

1 AMSA Interactive heritage lighthouse map, Google, (2019)

2 Australia ICOMOS, Burra Charter, (2013).

3 Marquis-Kyle, Peter, Goose Island Lighthouse, Heritage Lighthouse Report, AMSG, (2007).

4 AMSG, Goose Island Lighthouse Heritage Asset Condition Report, (2019).

I am a...