Local Government & Shires Associations

POLICY STATEMENT

A new heritage policy was adopted and launched at the Shires Association Conference in June and the Local Government Association Conference at Coffs Harbour in October. Developed by the Local Government & Shires Association in close cooperation with the Heritage Office, the policy focuses on the partnership between local and State government.

Heritage Policy

LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

• supports the principles of heritage conservation contained in the Burra Charter, which establishes a framework for identifying and managing heritage places and objects;
• recognises that councils have a role to play in the conservation of Aboriginal, natural and cultural heritage places and movable items;
• recognises that heritage considerations should form an integral part of social and environmental planning;
• recognises the role of heritage in providing a balance between continuity and change in the local environment and acknowledges that this balance is the hallmark of a rich and productive culture.

Implementation strategy

THE ASSOCIATION WILL:

1	Work with the Heritage Office to develop a coordinated program of action to implement the policy objectives.

Actions

1.1	Hazel Hawke to present keynote address on the objectives of the policy at the 1998 Sydney and Coffs Harbour conferences.
1.2	Hold quarterly meetings with the Heritage Office to monitor the progress of the Heritage Office strategic plan as it relates to local government.
1.3	The Association will provide advice to councils within available resources.
1.4	Hold regional seminars on heritage by December 1999.

2	Encourage councils to assist their local community in the identification, assessment and on-going management of heritage places in their local area.

Actions

2.1	Disseminate information on available funding for local government heritage projects.
2.2	Encourage councils to make use of available funding sources.
2.3	Provide $ for $ funding through the Heritage Assistance Program to ensure 50% of councils have commenced or completed heritage studies by June 2000.
2.4	Guidelines for the involvement of ethnic communities in heritage studies developed and distributed by June 2000.
2.5	100 local councils/shires have heritage LEPs by June 2000.

3	Actively participate with the service providers of professional development short courses to identify the professional education needs of local government and have input into course content and structure.

Actions

3.1	Conduct a heritage training needs analysis of local government through the Local Government Training Unit by June 1999.
3.2	Devolve management of the Heritage Office's Heritage Short Courses for NSW Local Government program to an appropriate provider and have 500 officers trained by June 2000.
3.3	Negotiate the introduction of targeted training programs through regional training institutions.
3.4	Hold meetings with key service providers regarding training opportunities in the local government sector from March 1998.

4	Encourage councils to promote understanding of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal culture.

Actions

4.1	Run a series of Aboriginal awareness workshops throughout the State.
4.2	Develop and distribute guidelines for the identification and management of Aboriginal heritage through the Heritage Council's Aboriginal Heritage Committee.
4.3	Promote the preparation of Aboriginal heritage studies through identified councils.
4.4	Assist councils to secure additional finance from available sources for Aboriginal heritage projects.

5	Encourage councils to adopt a heritage conservation strategy that applies to all council services and regulatory functions.

Actions

5.1	LGSA and Heritage Office to develop and distribute guidelines on the preparation of heritage strategies by June 1999.
5.2	LGSA and Heritage Office to develop and distribute pamphlet promoting the conservation and adaptive reuse of council heritage assets by June
5.3	Heritage strategies prepared by 15 councils/shires by June 2000.

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