1. HERITAGE ADVISOR’S COUNCIL TRAINING TOOLKIT

2. Beehive Building, Bendigo

3. Contents 1INTRODUCING THE TOOLKIT 2WORKING IN THE LOCAL CONTEXT 3THE ROLE OF THE HERITAGE ADVISOR 4HERITAGE CONTEXT AND LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND

4. Toys from the wreck of the Fiji, Moonlight Head

5. 1 INTRODUCING THE TOOLKIT

6. 1.1 Purpose of the toolkit Purpose Increase councils’ understanding of the role of the heritage advisor Increase councils’ understanding of cultural heritage practice Provide a broad overview of the ‘heritage system’ in Victoria. Objectives De-mystify heritage Build confidence in dealing with heritage issues Improve access to information about heritage Promote further understanding of heritage within councils Promote the positive aspects of heritage Promote local case studies about successful heritage outcomes.

7. 1.2 Format of the toolkit ContentHard CopyPresentationWeb based Sections -Printed PowerPoint slidesPowerPointIndividual web pages Narrative -Printed presenter’s notesSpoken presenter’s notesWeb text Resources -Printed referencesSelected printed references Links to Resources The Toolkit has been broken into four sections which can be used individually or together, according to the presentation’s purpose: Introducing the Toolkit The Local Context The role of the Heritage Advisor Heritage Context and Legislative Background. The toolkit is built around a simple framework which can be easily altered, supplemented and updated.

8. 1.3 Presenting the toolkit The target audience is expected to be: Statutory and strategic planners Councillors Council staff, including property managers and senior management Engineers Parks and Recreational Staff Staff involved in public relations, communications and tourism Place managers.

9. J-7 submarine, Hampton

10. 2 THE LOCAL CONTEXT YOUR MUNICIPALITY

11. 2.1Your place What’s happening in…? Add particular items

12. 2.2 Our heritage strategy Implementing our heritage strategy Actions undertaken [Use the next slide if there is no heritage strategy yet]

13. 2.2 Delivering a heritage strategy A heritage strategy allows a Council to: Identify positive heritage measures already employed by the council; Identify and prioritise work to be done in the future; Appropriately manage and monitor the heritage assets of their community Report on and celebrate achievements.

14. Bendigo Pottery, Epsom

15. 2.3 Local resources Heritage organisations Historical societies Museums and archives National Trust or other heritage organisations. More widely Educational institutions Community organisations Government initiatives.

16. 2.4 Heritage funding- external Places to go for heritage funding Victoria’s Heritage Restoration Fund Regional Development Victoria Vic Track heritage fund Museums Australia

17. 2.5 Heritage programs - internal Council initiatives Grants and loans programs Awards programs - either with the National Trust or alone Community grants for programs or assets.

18. Pelaco Sign, Richmond

19. 2.6 Heritage policies State planning policy framework Clause 15 covers built environment and heritage Municipal Strategic Statement Provides overarching strategic directions land use and development Local planning policy framework Local planning policies are tailored for individual municipalities Urban design frameworks Other planning policies may provide additional information on specific places Other relevant Council documents Heritage studies and environmental histories.

20. 3 THE ROLE OF THE HERITAGE ADVISOR

21. 3.1 Your heritage advisor How can your advisor assist? A regular heritage service that provides timely advice in house A service provided primarily remotely with occasional visits Any other combination. What are the particular skills of your advisor? A knowledge of heritage practice and the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter The Heritage Victoria resources available to assist advisors Technical conservation skills – a basic level as a minimum, and to recognise the extent of one’s own knowledge Where to access additional heritage resources Architectural skills Some heritage planning skills. [Highlight the particular skills of the advisor here]

22. 3.2 Local knowledge What the advisor needs to know: The local Planning Scheme and its heritage policies, schedule and maps The places on the Heritage Overlay The detail of local heritage studies completed and any areas not as well documented Historical archaeological heritage of the local area Awareness of local collections and other aspects of heritage.

23. 3.3 The Advisor’s wider role Strategic role Input to strategic plans or planning reviews Setting priorities for heritage in your area - see Municipal Heritage Strategy Identifying places for future assessment and protection Facilitating heritage initiatives for council owned or managed properties. Communication and promotion of heritage Membership on Council committees involving management of heritage places Getting to know and using local networks Heritage interpretation. Heritage advisory committee Role of the heritage advisory committee and relationship to the advisor Other council committees.

24. 3.4 Value of an independent expert Expert advice Provide free consultations on heritage matters Input into the planning process – strategic and statutory in relation to heritage Advice on council-owned heritage assets Provide a second opinion on heritage advice from other consultants.

25. 3.5 The heritage advisor as a facilitator Raise awareness of heritage in the community Explain heritage legislation and policies Provide assistance with funding sources and applications. Work with members of a Heritage Advisory Committee Assist with grant applications

26. 3.6 Participating in Council processes Useful skills and attributes Negotiation and problem solving to achieve outcomes. Lead, inspire and educate when required Work both strategically and effectively with day to day issues and deadlines Document site visits, meetings and phone conversations Appreciate the boundaries of the role and when to involve, or defer to, council officers.

27. 3.7 Negotiating good outcomes Places on Overlays (Heritage, Significant Landscape, Vegetation Protection) Pre-application consultations Provide independent heritage advice Support planning officers Do not let bad precedents become a model for future outcomes Use established frameworks Review applications following revisions.

28. 3.8 Assessing permit applications for HO places Referrals Advising on proposed changes Use of heritage impact statements Comment on Victorian Heritage Register referrals Provide written or verbal reports to Council officers Communicate the outcome of any pre-application consultations Peer review other heritage reports. Decision Guidelines Provide recommendations consistent with heritage policies, their objectives and decision guidelines Interpret standard decision guidelines from the Planning Scheme in relation to a place’s significance.

29. 3.9 What an advisor might recommend Further information may be needed before assessment is possible Reference to local and state policies as supporting material Provide alternative options and indicate what can be supported where appropriate Recommend particular permit conditions Recommend mitigation measures to lessen heritage impact

30. 3.10 Good design outcomes [Provide case studies, initially drawing from examples on Heritage Victoria website] [Advisors can build their own supply of case studies and add to templates for use] Try to cover: Adaptation Additions Reconstruction New buildings in heritage areas Specific elements such as fences etc.

31. 3.11 Relationships to other disciplines (when to get help) Other disciplines Historical archaeology - refer to HV Cultural landscapes - refer to HV Indigenous heritage – refer to OAAV (1800 762 003) Structural works - engineers or heritage trades. Advice may also be required in relation to: Planning urban design Landscape and horticulture Museums and collections.

32. Ovens Gully Alluvial Diggings, Castlemaine. Image Alison Pouliott

33. 3.12 Getting the most from your heritage advisor How can councils help the advisor to do their job? Supply the advisor with sufficient information for each referral Avoid using all of the advisor’s time for permit processing Use the advisor to educate the planners Assist advisors to be positive, proactive, enabling and encouraging. For ‘quiet’ councils: Ensure that the advisor spends a couple of days each year at the council rather than working remotely. Ask the advisor to help develop a Municipal Heritage Strategy Organise and promote a regular “Heritage Clinic”.

34. 3.13 Constraints on the advisor’s role Financial, time, other constraints about the role of advisor Need for adequate time for site visits Lack of feedback on outcome of applications – not knowing how advice is followed up Support from Council when decisions get tough Recognising the limitations of the role, and managing expectations. Managing conflicts of interest.

35. 3.14 Professional development Heritage Advisor’s Workshops Short courses – PIA Planet Courses Longford Academy – Tasmania University of Canberra Summer School ANU Institute for Professional Practice in Heritage and the Arts (IPPHA) Deakin University – Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific (CHCAP) Single subjects at other universities e.g. Latrobe Professional body - Australia ICOMOS.

36. 4 HERITAGE CONTEXT AND LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND

37. Taradale Viaduct

38. 4.1 Why is heritage important? Heritage is at the heart of community identity Heritage contributes to ‘sense of place’ Heritage provides continuity within our environment (built and natural) Heritage places provide tangible reminders of our place and history Heritage can contribute to tourism and economic regeneration.

39. 4.2 Heritage at the local level Planning objectives Councils have a duty under the Planning and Environment Act to conserve and enhance places of special cultural value. State planning policy Identify, assess and document places of natural and cultural heritage significance as a basis for their inclusion in the planning scheme. Provide for the conservation and enhancement of those places which are of aesthetic, archaeological, architectural, cultural, scientific, or social significance, or otherwise of special cultural value.” Encourage appropriate development that respects places with identified heritage values and creates a worthy legacy for future generations.

40. 4.3 Heritage listings World heritage 1 in Victoria and 20 across Australia National heritage 24 in Victoria and 100 across Australia 43 Commonwealth heritage places and 397 across Australia NHL places are protected under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) State heritage Approximately 2300 places on the Victorian Heritage Register Local heritage Approximately 160,000 properties covered by individual or precinct Heritage Overlays. 95% of Victoria’s historic heritage is managed by local government Approximately 7,500 sites on the Heritage Inventory.

41. Former Dressing Pavilion, Willliamstown

42. 4.4 Key heritage legislation Indigenous/Aboriginal heritage Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 - Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (OAAV) Historic/European/non-Indigenous heritage Heritage Act 1995 - Heritage Victoria (HV) Underpinning all heritage at the local level Planning and Environment Act 1987 – local government & DELWP

43. 4.5 Identifying heritage places Undertaking a heritage study Define the objectives of the study Define geographical boundaries What assistance can be obtained? Is assistance from other specialists required? Identify existing information Documentary research Field study Gather community knowledge.

44. Excavation at Thomas Mill, Plenty George Park, Photo: City of Whittlesea

45. 4.6 Assessing heritage places Investigating significance Historical context and themes Establish the history of the place Investigate the fabric Describe associations for individuals or groups A place may have historical, aesthetic, social, or technical values. Use of model criteria Undertake a comparative assessment Establish a level of significance Write a statement of significance.

46. 4.7 Managing heritage at the local level Local heritage control Subdivision of land Demolition or removal of a building Externally alter a building Constructing a building Display a sign Painting an unpainted external surface. What is controlled? Particular controls may also apply if these are noted in the heritage schedule to the planning scheme. Places within precincts Precincts may have contributory and non-contributory elements.

47. Casterton Railway Station

48. 4.8 Heritage databases HERMES & HERMES INTERACTIVE MAP Information on all recorded heritage places in the State. Managed on behalf of the heritage community and local government Editable by Councils and Government agencies for their own data, or by consultants on their behalf. HERMES interactive map, build results showing heritage listings including heritage inventory: http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/hermes.jsp http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/hermes.jsp Victorian Heritage Database Publicly accessible database Places on the VHR, HOs, VHI and NT Register. Australian Heritage Database Maintained by the Commonwealth DoE Information on National and Commonwealth listed places and the now defunct RNE.

49. explanatory notes This toolkit was prepared by Context Pty Ltd Heritage Consultants and commissioned by Heritage Victoria, the principal cultural heritage agency in the State of Victoria, Australia as a training resource for use by local government. This base template is designed to be used by Victorian local councils to train their staff in heritage. It is designed to be modified by local council to include relevant local planning information, such as local policies, municipal strategic statements and heritage studies and other information specific to your particular municipality. It is suggested that Council’s heritage staff, such as heritage officers/planners or heritage advisors periodically present the material to council staff and councillors and use it as part of induction processes for Councils. The tookit consists of powerpoint slides (powerpoint document) and speakers notes (word document) which also contains explanatory notes on the kit and further web links and resources. For any queries on the toolkit, please contact the Local government staff at Heritage Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, www.delwp.vic.gov.au.www.delwp.vic.gov.au