Country is of great importance for the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The land, and the environment it supports, are central to the spirituality of Indigenous Australians.

Managing country was a spiritual activity.

Traditionally the Dharawal speaking peoples of the Illawarra lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle in a territory that they understood and cared for. The people were semi-nomadic, moving through the landscape according to changes in season and resource availability.

Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area (referred to in this plan as the park) occupies nearly 30% of the Illawarra escarpment area.

It is administered by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on behalf of the NSW State Government.

Under the NPW Act (section 30G), state conservation areas are managed to: 

• conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem function, protect natural phenomena and maintain natural landscapes 

• conserve places, objects and features of cultural value

Whilst the area is protected by this legislation, because they held coal mining leases for the area that were donated back to the NSW Government, the company BHP Billiton retains the right to "continuation of existing uses and mining-related infrastructure − the right to open new mines or install new equipment, roads, railways and other services related to its operations" (Illawarra Escarpment Plan of management here)

Wollongong City Council are responsible for the management of the Mount Keira Summit Park. This are is shown on the aerial photograph outlined in red.

Within this park are two categories of land that legally must be managed in a particular manner.

Most of the Mount Keira Summit Park is classified as as an Area of Cultural Significance. "Under section 36H of the Local Government Act the core objectives for management of an Area of Cultural Significance are to retain and enhance the cultural significance of the area (namely its Aboriginal, aesthetic, archaeological, historical, technical, research or social significance) for past, present or future generations by active conservation." (Summit Park Plan of Management found here.)

The look out and kiosk area is classified as "General Community Use. Under section 36I of the Local Government Act the core objectives for management of General Community Use land are to promote, encourage and provide for the use of the land and provide facilities to meet the current and future needs of the local community and the wider public." (Summit Park Plan of Management found here.)

Any development of the Mountain would need to meet these legal requirements.