About Earth Sea Heritage Surveys

Earth Sea is a cultural heritage management consultancy specializing in northern Australian environments. The company commenced trading in 2005 operating out of Darwin. Earth Sea quickly increased its scope to include Cape York and the Pilbara.

The company brings together the experience and skills of three principal consultants, Richard Woolfe, Daryl Guse and David Sampson. Together with Janette Mulherin from Mulherin Consulting Pty Ltd, our consultants present a unique blend of capabilities in the cultural heritage management, archaeology and anthropology areas:

• Archaeological and heritage surveying;
• GPS Surveying and cartography;
• Anthropological research and field work;
• Consultation with Aboriginal Traditional Owners and communities;
• Consultation with the broader community on environment and heritage matters;
• Historical research;
• Provision of policy advice on heritage matters;
• Provision of training in all of the above areas;
• Remote area logistics.

In archaeology and heritage management, Earth Sea focuses on:

• Accurately locating and identifying heritage and archaeological features;
• Assessing the heritage significance of these sites and features;
• Recommending appropriate action to clients based on practical field experience and an understanding of the legislative requirements in Queensland, WA and the Northern Territory.
• Consulting with Indigenous groups including Traditional Owners, Native Title claimant groups, communities and Land Councils.

In GPS surveying and mapping Earth Sea focuses on:

• Infrastructure mapping to facilitate provision of services, for development purposes and commercial applications.
• GPS surveying and mapping for heritage management and archaeology.
• Survey of easements, access tracks and the like for resource development.
• GIS solutions.
• Training in GIS and field survey techniques including GPS use for field staff and practical interfacing of GIS/ mapping software and GPS.

In the training area, Earth Sea focuses on:

• Provision of practical, ‘hands on’, courses in GPS, GIS and mapping software.
• Provision of cultural heritage management training for staff in related disciplines.
• Provision of ongoing coaching in the above areas.
• Through Mulherin Consulting, provision of training plans to suit organisational requirements and budgets.

In the historical research area, Earth Sea focuses on:

• Provision of quality historical research and documentation to government and business to facilitate decision making in the heritage management area.
• Quality assessment of heritage significance using current heritage assessment criteria. (NT Heritage Conservation Act 1991.)

Earth Sea abides by the Code of Ethics of the Australian Archaeological Association.

Geographical coverage:

Earth Sea consultants have worked in the following areas:

• The Top End of the Northern Territory
• Arnhemland
• Central Australia
• The Pilbara
• Cape York

Principal clients:

• Cameco Australia, West Arnhemland
• Rio Tinto Aluminium, Western Cape York
• Rio Tinto Minerals, Dampier
• Alcan, Gove
• Pilbara Iron Pty Ltd
• Construction Division, Road Projects, NT Government.
• Northern Land Council
• Department of Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth Government.
• Office of Environment and Heritage, NT Government.
• Power Water Corporation, Northern Territory.
• HLA Envirosciences (Bradshaw Field Training Area)
• ECOZ VDM, Environmental Consultants
• Mcmahon Contractors
• SMEC Australia (Darwin River Dam)
• Woodside Energy
• Xstrata Zinc

Awards:

Earth Sea was awarded the Laila Hagland prize for excellence in consultancy at the 2006 Australian Archaeological Association conference.

Major project participation:

• Bradshaw Field Training Area development for the Department of Defence over 15 years as consultants.
• Darwin River Dam enlargement for SMEC Australia and Power Water Corporation
• Dampier Salt expansion project for Rio Tinto Minerals.
• Alcan Gove expansion project
• McArthur River Mine expansion project for Xstrata Zinc
• South Alligator Valley mining rehabilitation project for Ecoz VDM and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage (now DEWR)
• Cameco Australia exploration project, West Arnhemland
• Rio Tinto exploration, West Arnhemland
• Trans Territory Pipeline, Blacktip, Woodside
• Victoria Highway redevelopment, Northern Territory Government

Earth Sea Heritage Surveys are part of Mulherin Consulting Pty Ltd, a company that provides a diverse range of consultancy services to government, councils and private businesses. ABN: 53 102 695 027 ACN: 102 695 027.