Heritage

1. Overview

The primary beneficiaries of heritage conservation are the local community.

What is Heritage?

The Heritage of a community includes all of the written and oral histories and the traditions of that community. It includes all the artefacts, the built environment, the cultural landscapes, the transport routes of the distant and recent past. The heritage of a community is the sum of these parts, and their loss reduces the connection of the community to its heritage.

What are Heritage Sites?

These include landscapes such as gardens and particular rural settings, transport routes - old road alignments and railways, industrial sites and structures, sites of agricultural activity and related buildings and cemeteries. Some sites of former activity have few visible traces but have potential archaeological interest.

Heritage sites are not restricted to the abodes of the rich and famous; the humble cottage dwelling from the great depression is as evocative of our past as the imposing town residence, and the simple station hut is as the large homestead.

Heritage sites do not have to be pure and unaltered, or frozen in time to have value. In fact sites with many successive alterations can tell us more about changing local needs.

Why keep Heritage, and how much do we need?

The primary beneficiaries of heritage conservation are the local community. Heritage sites reflect triumphs and failures, they can be beautiful or forlorn but they are part of everyone's surroundings and contribute to the communities sense of belonging or feeling at home. The decision to keep heritage is the responsibility of the community.

2. Heritage Advisory Service

The Bland Shire Council engages a heritage advisor, for one day per month. The role of the heritage advisor is to:

3. 1. PROMOTE HERITAGE AND ITS CONSERVATION

  • By providing free advice to property owners with respect to alterations and conservation work on heritage items.
  • Providing lists of suitably qualified and experienced architects and engineers; conservation tradesmen and suppliers for the purpose of providing advice to heritage owners.
  • Assisting all heritage owners where necessary to apply for funding under the Heritage Assistance Program, Dept of Planning and the Commonwealth Tax Incentive Scheme for Heritage Conservation.
  • Assisting in establishment of local heritage funds.
  • Providing information to the local community on heritage conservation.
  • Providing advice on heritage items generally, their care and management.

4. 2. ASSIST THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY IN MANAGING CHANGE BY:

  • Assessing the educational needs of local Council staff, local councillors, local professionals, trades people, schools and the community generally.
  • By providing advice on Development Applications.
  • Monitor the condition and maintenance of heritage items in the area.
  • Interpretation of specific sites.
  • Where necessary supervise any council commissioned conservation study.
  • Assist in the commissioning of main street studies.

5. 3. ENCOURAGE THE ACTIVE PURSUIT OF CULTURAL TOURISM IN THE AREA

  • Establish and advise on the collection of heritage resource material, including photographs, to assist in heritage conservation and promotion in the area.
  • Assist in the establishment of heritage trails.

To make an appointment with Council's Heritage Advisor or for further information or please contact Council's Development Services Department on 6972 2266.

6. Heritage Funding

Local Heritage Assistance Fund

Aim of the Fund

The Local Heritage Assistance Fund aims to encourage as much positive work on heritage items in the area as possible. In the past, many grant programs were for individual buildings only. This program will provide kick start funding to encourage the joint funding of a number of projects. In the process, it is hoped that this will engender a greater interest and concern for conservation for other heritage items within the Council's area.

For more information about how to apply please contact Council's Development and Regulatory Services team on 6972 2266 to discuss your proposal.

 

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