Heritage or Conservation Management Plans (HMPs/CMPs) are vital tools that provide an opportunity to conserve and manage heritage sites for future generations to enjoy. However, most of these HMPs/CMPs are developed specifically for site conservation in the context of tourism or research purposes. However, there is a clear gap for effective HMPs/CMPs within the development context when one looks at the amount of large scale operations such as mines, wind and solar farms etc. These developments have the potential to have a significant impact on vast areas and innumerable heritage resources within their respective development footprints and impact areas. The management of heritage sites within an area outlined for development requires a different approach to HMPs/CMPs. CMPs/HMPs aim to conserve heritage sites, while Development Heritage Management Plans (DHMPs) aim to manage the activities and phases of a development that may impact heritage resources within the application area.
As part of the mandate as directed in the National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1999 (NHRA), the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and other relevant Heritage Resources Authorities (HRAs) are required to provide comments on development cases conducted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, No 107 of 1998 (NEMA), and the NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2014 Regulations. As part of these investigations, an assessment of heritage resources within the proposed development footprint is completed in the form of a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) in terms of the NHRA.
As a result of the HIA, some heritage resources...
