Outcome 5: Heritage conservation

Main responsibilities for this outcome

Heritage Division

The department’s Heritage Division is responsible for identifying, protecting, conserving and celebrating Australia’s heritage by developing and implementing strategies and programs, and administering legislation. The department also aims to strengthen the integrity of the World Heritage Convention by helping countries in Australia’s region to implement it.

Objectives

• Identify, protect, conserve and celebrate Australia’s natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places that are of national and world significance.
• Identify, protect and conserve heritage places that are Commonwealth owned or controlled.
• Promote Australia’s reputation internationally by:
  • strengthening the integrity of the World Heritage Convention by working with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and other World Heritage Committee members to improve the policies and processes of the Convention, and helping countries in Australia’s region identify and protect their World Heritage
  • working with the Government of Papua New Guinea to protect the natural, cultural and historic values of the Kokoda Track and surrounding region.
• Increase knowledge and appreciation of Australia’s maritime heritage and protect shipwrecks and associated relics.
• Provide funding and advice to support heritage protection, conservation and interpretation through the successful management of funding programs, including working with state and territory National Trusts through the Australian Council of National Trusts, to enhance and promote the conservation of Australia’s cultural heritage.
• Encourage Australians to learn about, access and enjoy Australia’s heritage by raising the profile of heritage and increasing the awareness of its contribution to social amenity and well being.

Strategies

Australia’s World, National and Commonwealth Heritage places are of natural, Indigenous or historic significance or any combination of the three. They are important places to Australia’s sense of national identity and shared values. Their protection and recognition benefits all Australians.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 protects the heritage values of places in the following lists:

• World Heritage List—places of outstanding universal value which are inscribed under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
• Natural Heritage (usually referred to as the World Heritage Convention).National Heritage List—places of outstanding heritage value to the nation.
• Commonwealth Heritage List—places of heritage value which are owned or leased by the Australian Government.

The department manages the processes set up by the EPBC Act by providing heritage listing advice to the government, and advises property managers on heritage management plans and strategies. The department also supports the Australian Heritage Council in its assessment, advice, and public information and awareness activities.

World Heritage List

National governments nominate places for the World Heritage List and the World Heritage Committee assesses them.

Working with state officials, the department completed the management framework and community consultation processes for the World Heritage nomination of the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Ningaloo Reef covers more than 600 000 hectares of coastal waters and land, including one of the longest near-shore reefs in the world. It is home to rare wildlife including whale sharks and sea turtles. On 24 June 2011 UNESCO inscribed Ningaloo in the World Heritage List.

In recognition of its outstanding natural and cultural values, the 1 228 hectare Koongarra area inside Kakadu National Park, but excluded from its original 1979 boundaries because of its potential uranium resources, was added to the Kakadu World Heritage Area by the World Heritage Committee on 27 June 2011.

Terns at Winderabandi Point, Ningaloo Marine Area – Commonwealth Waters. (Tony Howard)

Australian World Heritage Tentative List

Under the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (2005), the Australian Government prepares an Australian World Heritage Tentative List, an inventory of Australian properties considered suitable for inscription in the World Heritage List over the next 10 years. 

The department also worked with the Queensland Government on a proposal for Cape York. It was agreed that the consent and participation of the localIndigenous people was essential for the proposal. This project is continuing.

The department continued to work with the Northern Territory Government on a proposal for the West MacDonald Ranges. There was agreement that before proceeding the proposal required further consultation.

National and Commonwealth heritage listings

Under the EPBC Act the minister is responsible for including places in the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists. In 2010–11 the minister called for public nominations for both lists. In setting the Australian Heritage Council’s assessment work plan for the National Heritage List, the minister considered 50 nominations from members of the public, non-government organisations and other levels of government, and one nomination from the council itself (for the Tarkine). The department received 21 nominations for the Commonwealth Heritage List, and 19 places were set in the finalised assessment work plan for the Commonwealth Heritage List for 2012–13.

Seven places were added to the National Heritage List. They are the Great Ocean Road and Scenic Environs and Coranderrk in Victoria; the Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Ochre Mine, and Goldfields Water Supply Scheme in Western Australia; Ngarrabullgan in Queensland, and off the coast of Western Australia, HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites. The Jordan River levee site in Tasmania, was added as an emergency listing as at 30 June 2011 the National Heritage list included 95 places.

In 2010–11 Llandilo International Transmitting Station and HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites were added to the Commonwealth Heritage List, bringing its total to 325. One place became ineligible for the Commonwealth list following its sale and was removed from the list.

Work on inclusion of the Kimberley in the National Heritage List progressed.

Emergency listings

The minister can ‘emergency list’ places he believes might have National or Commonwealth heritage values if the values are under likely and imminent threat. In 2010–11 the minister agreed to list the Jordan River levee site in the National Heritage List under the emergency provisions. Three other requests to emergency list places were also received:

• Yan Yean, in Victoria—the minister decided the potential heritage values of Yan Yean were not under an imminent threat and therefore could not be listed in accordance with the EPBC Act.
• Lake Burley Griffin and Lake Foreshore in the Australian Capital Territory— this request was still under consideration at 30 June 2011.
• Fort Direction in Tasmania— the minister decided not to emergency list Fort Direction noting advice from the Department of Defence that it was not under imminent threat.

World Heritage management

In 2010 a revised Conservation Management Plan and a World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan were finalised for the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, listed in the World Heritage List.

The Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee

The Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee advises federal and state heritage ministers on national and cross-cutting issues affecting Australia’s World Heritage properties. It is a forum for Australia’s World Heritage property managers to share information on place management and protection. In 2009 the committee identified three priority work areas, reporting on them to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in 2010. The areas are:

• Indigenous cultural protocols
• threats to World Heritage properties, including climate change and invasive species
• presentation, communication and tourism.

World Heritage Committee membership

In October 2007 Australia was elected to the World Heritage Committee for a four-year term. Australia’s primary objectives were to improve heritage management capacity in our region and strengthen the integrity of the World Heritage Convention. The department participated in international expert meetings on the future of the World Heritage Convention; sustainable tourism; the finances of the World Heritage Centre; serial national and trans-national natural World Heritage sites, and the processes and practices before the committee considers nominations for World Heritage Listing.

National and Commonwealth heritage management

The EPBC Act provides for the preparation of a management plan for each place on the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists. In 2010–11 the department commented on 14 management plans for National Heritage List places.

The EPBC Act requires Australian Government agencies that own or lease places with listed or potential Commonwealth Heritage values to prepare written heritage strategies for managing them, to protect and conserve those values. In 2010–11 three agencies completed heritage strategies. Sixteen  strategies are now finalised and 14 are being prepared. A further 15 agencies are liaising with the department on strategy preparation.

The EPBC Act also requires each Commonwealth agency to undertake an assessment process to identify the places it owns or controls that might have Commonwealth Heritage values. The Heritage Division held a heritage workshop for Commonwealth agencies on 12 May 2011 at the Australian Academy of Science which is listed on the National Heritage List. The workshop covered all EPBC Act requirements for Commonwealth agencies. In September 2010 the Australian Heritage Council published a document on the department’s website titled ‘Identifying Commonwealth Heritage Values and Establishing a Heritage Register’, to assist agencies. Australia Post and AirServices Australia used the tool to assess and submit nominations for their Australia-wide heritage assets. Other Commonwealth agencies have been encouraged to assess and submit nominations for their heritage assets. This streamlined approach proved very successful (see case study 6).

Kokoda Track

Entering small village, Kokoda Track. (Jo Beath)

In 2010–11 the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments signed the Second Joint Understanding (2010–2015) on the Owen Stanley Ranges, Brown River Catchment and Kokoda Track Region. Under this understanding the Australian Government provided advisors to the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation to help its National Taskforce implement the Second Joint Understanding and build capacity in land use planning and protected area management.

The department also provided funding to the Kokoda Development Program to construct school classrooms; buy curriculum and stationery supplies; refurbish health facilities; improve aid posts; replenish medical supplies; conduct an integrated health and HIV patrol, and train health workers and teachers.

Assistance was also given to the Kokoda Track Authority to strengthen operational capacity, deliver micro-business support for track communities, and implement maintenance and safety projects along the track. Support was also provided to key personnel—a Chief Executive Officer, Operations Manager, Finance Officer, Safety Project Manager and a Livelihoods Officer.

The government has committed $4.9 million over two years (2009–11) for the Kokoda Track Safety Package. The funding is to:

• upgrade the Owers Corner Road and nearby bridges
• enhance the Kokoda airstrip and install safety equipment at other airstrips along the Kokoda Track
• improve radio communications and provide first aid training for guides and porters
• support medical research into hydration issues affecting trekkers.

Indigenous heritage

Indigenous rock art site, Windjana Gorge National Park, Kimberley region, Western Australia. (Cathy Zwick)

The department works with other government agencies and the community to protect the cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The work includes providing advice on proposals referred under the EPBC Act; supporting projects to identify conserve and promote Indigenous heritage; and providing emergency protection to areas and assisting the minister to respond to applications under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984

Under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 the minister can protect areas and objects of traditional significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from threats of injury or desecration. This ‘last resort’ protection is available only when there is no effective protection under state or territory laws.

In 2010–11 the department supported the minister’s response to 43 separate requests to protect 33 areas and two collections of objects. Of these, 20 were new requests made during the year, an increase on last year’s 14 new requests and the long-term average of about 12 new requests a year.

Half of the requests (21) were either not legally valid applications under the EPBC Act or were not pursued by the applicants. Two applications were resolved when the minister declined to make declarations due to insufficient evidence. Another 20 applications were under active consideration at the end of 2010–11.

Responses take time because the minister must allow the parties procedural fairness and, in some cases, the minister commissions reports. The minister sometimes receives more than one request to protect the same area. For example of the 43 requests managed in 2010–11, six sought to protect Bulahdelah (or Alum) Mountain in New South Wales from the construction of a bypass in the Pacific Highway.

Indigenous Heritage Program

The department administers the government’s Indigenous Heritage Program, which is an ongoing annual competitive grants program that provides $3.645 million annually to identify, conserve and promote the Indigenous heritage values of places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The program is delivered in cooperation with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs’ Indigenous Coordination Centres, as part of the whole-of-government delivery of services to Indigenous Australians. 

In 2010–11 the Indigenous Heritage Program provided funding for 55 projects including two projects to conserve and/or promote the National Heritage-listed sites of the Brewarrina Fish-traps and the Myall Creek Massacre. The remaining projects range across the country—seven each from New South Wales and South Australia, four from the Northern Territory, 17 from Queensland, two from Tasmania, and 16 from Western Australia. Recipients include shire councils, land councils, elders groups, National Trusts and educational institutions.

Heritage Grant Programs

The department administers a range of grant programs to provide funding and advice to support heritage protection, conservation and interpretation.

The Jobs Fund

The Jobs Fund was a $650 million Australian Government initiative to support and create jobs and skill development in local communities. The Jobs Fund provided $60 million to 191 projects over two years (2009–2011) to strengthen the role of heritage in the community. Funding was approved through economic stimulus and employment programs to protect, conserve and promote sites on the National and World Heritage lists and National Trust, cultural heritage and natural heritage places. The program is now closed.

National Historic Sites

The National Historic Sites program helps protect and conserve Australia’s most significant historic heritage. In 2010−11 $4.3 million was provided to 47 projects to maintain and conserve the special heritage values of nationally significant historic heritage sites. These are places that have had an important role in the nation’s history. To be eligible for funding a place must be listed, or be actively considered for listing, in the National Heritage List, or be a historic heritage place of national significance (generally already included on a state heritage list or the Commonwealth Heritage List). The program is ongoing.

The National Heritage List Sites Promotional Program was funded under the National Historic Sites program. During and around the inaugural Australian Heritage Week, 32 managers of nationally significant historic sites were funded to organise, promote and implement community events to raise awareness of heritage.

Commemorating Eminent Australians

The Commemorating Eminent Australians program provides funding for the recognition of Australians who made a significant impact on Australia and the world. Eligible projects may include the conservation of existing graves, monuments, objects, plaques and statues commemorating eminent Australians. The program has total annual funding of up to $100 000. Funding of $42 781 was provided to five projects in 2010–11. The program is ongoing.

Australia's maritime heritage

Historic shipwrecks

Anchor from the Marie Gabrielle (1869) on Wreck Beach. (John Baker)

The department administers the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and the Historic Shipwrecks Program, working with state, territory and Norfolk Island government agencies to protect historic shipwrecks.

In November 2010 the Environment Protection and Heritage Council signed the Australian Underwater Cultural Heritage Intergovernmental Agreement. This clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, states and Northern Territory jurisdictions in the management of Australia’s underwater cultural heritage. It also sets out how to meet international best practice as outlined in the rules in the Annex to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 2001 (Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage).

On 6 and 7 November 2010 the department helped deliver a joint Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology and National Archaeological Society course on Norfolk Island.

On 9 November 2010 collections from the Batavia (sunk in 1629), Vergulde Draeck (1656), Zuytdorp (1712) and the Zeewijk (1727) were presented to the Australian Government and People by his Excellency Mr Willem Andreae, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. These collections were previously located in the Netherlands under the Agreement between Australia and the Netherlands Concerning Old Dutch Shipwrecks (ANCODS). The ANCODS Agreement was signed on 6 November 1972 and the repatriation of these artefacts brings to a close more than 37 years of work by the ANCODS committee. The collections include silver coins, bricks, lead ingots, cannon balls, amber and pitch, as well as rare objects owned by crew and passengers such as navigational instruments and ornaments. The artefacts are now in the Distributed National Historic Shipwreck Collection and housed in the Western Australian Museum.

In January 2011 the department helped ABC Landline produce a special on the centenary commemoration of the loss of SS Yongala. The Yongala, an interstate coastal steamer, on her 99th journey with 122 passengers and crew, sank with no survivors near Townsville, Queensland during cyclonic weather in March 1911. The site, a protected historic shipwreck, gives a snapshot of Edwardian life and is one of Australia’s most highly regarded and popular wreck dives. A version of the television special was later broadcast in the ABC’s Stateline, 7:30 Report and ABC News programs.

In February 2011 the department sponsored the Head of the Historical Archaeology Department, Fiji Museum, to attend the UNESCO Third Foundation Course for the Underwater Cultural Heritage, held in Chanthaburi, Thailand, and supported a staff member as an expert trainer at the foundation course.

On 14 March 2011 the shipwrecks sites of HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoranwere added to the National Heritage List. The sites and associated debris fields are located 22 kilometres apart, 290 kilometres west-south-west of Carnarvon, off the coast of Western Australia. HMAS Sydney II—Australia’s most famous warship from WWII sank with a loss of all crew after a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoranon 19 November 1941.

In May 2011 the Historic Shipwreck Delegate’s National Historic Shipwreck Preservation Project received $500 000 through an Australian Research Council linkage grant for the in situ preservation and reburial of a colonial trader, the Clarence (1850). The project begins in 2011–12 and includes partner organisations from all states (except South Australia), the Northern Territory, Norfolk Island and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

In May 2011 the department gave the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology $12 000 to sponsor several attendees from the Pacific Islands at the inaugural Asian Academy for Heritage Management: Asia–Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage.

In 2010–11 the following shipwrecks were discovered in Commonwealth controlled waters:

• Cambria (sunk in 1900), WA
• Geffrard (1875), WA
• Jane Bay (unidentified), WA
• North Burns Beach unidentified, WA
• Marquis of Anglesea (1829), WA
• TSS Coramba, Vic
• Sleaford Bay (unidentified), SA.

The department conducted training sessions for Historic Shipwreck Inspector authorised officers in South Australia, the Torres Strait islands, Norfolk Island, Queensland and Western Australia. In conjunction with the Environmental Investigation Unit, two reported breaches of the Historic Shipwrecks Act were investigated. One led to a successful prosecution for theft. The second was with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration at 30 June 2011. A protected zone was subsequently declared around the looted site of SS Glenelg in Victoria.

Work continued on the Australian National Shipwreck Database. The web Geographical Information System mapping capacity was developed in line with the department’s IT platform and the database was modified to meet statutory requirements and future needs of the Historic Shipwrecks Act.

The Historic Shipwrecks Program

The Historic Shipwrecks Program funds the day-to-day administration by states and the territories of the Historic Shipwrecks Act. This covers the protection, conservation and preservation of historic shipwrecks and their relics, and the ongoing discovery, survey and documentation of historic shipwreck resources. In 2010–11 the department moved from a grant-based funding program to multi-year service level agreements with the states, the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island. 

Results

• The World Heritage Committee inscribed the Ningaloo Reef in the World Heritage List on 24 June 2011. Australia now has 19 places in the World Heritage List. 
• On 27 June 2011, in recognition of its outstanding natural and cultural values, the World Heritage Committee added the 1228 hectare Koongarra area of Kakadu National Park to the Kakadu World Heritage Area. It had been excluded in 1979 from the original boundaries because of its potential uranium resources.
• Identification and protection of Australia’s most outstanding heritage places continued. Seven places were added to the National Heritage List. Two were added to the Commonwealth Heritage List. Assessments of over 50 other places were completed.
• A range of grants programs supported heritage protection, conservation and interpretation. Under the Jobs Fund Heritage Program $45 million went to 158 projects in 2010–11. All 191 Jobs Fund Heritage projects were completed and program funding of $60 million successfully expended.
• The National Heritage Sites Program was launched to protect and conserve Australia’s most significant historic heritage, with 47 projects receiving funding from the budget of $4 million.
• The National Trust Partnership Program provided $927 000 to the National Trust movement to support state and territory Trusts to develop and implement heritage projects.
• The Indigenous Heritage Program provided $3.6 million to 55 projects to identify, conserve and promote Indigenous heritage places. 
• The inaugural Australian Heritage Week in April 2011, proved highly successful, raising the profile of heritage and increasing awareness of its social and national role. The National Historic Sites Program provided $300 000 to help fund 31 projects celebrating Heritage Week.
• Working with the Papua New Guinea Government, the Australian Government provided $14.9 million under the Kokoda Initiative and $4.9 million under the Kokoda Track Safety Package (2009–11) to:
  • support the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation enhance land use planning and protected area management, and undertake a feasibility study into a possible World Heritage nomination for the Owen Stanley Ranges
  • help improve services along the Kokoda Track, including health, education, water and sanitation, reducing risks to trekkers and local communities; help Track communities generate income, particularly from the trekking market, and help the Kokoda Track Authority enhance operations and develop the Track as a world-class trekking experience.
    The department supported Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Kiribati to implement the World Heritage Convention, helping them to complete their World Heritage six-yearly periodic reports. The department also supported five Pacific Island representatives to attend the 35th Session of the World Heritage Committee.
• The department helped the Solomon Islands Government establish partnerships with two non-government organisations:
  • Live and Learn Environmental Education, helping customary landowners in the East Rennell World Heritage Area to manage land through practices other than unsustainable resource extraction.
  • World Wide Fund for Nature, helping national and provincial governments protect heritage areas (including East Rennell) under protected area legislation.
• The department also developed partnerships with non-government organisations in the Pacific region to run programs that strengthen World Heritage:
  • In Papua New Guinea, the partnership with Live and Learn Environmental Education implemented educational programs in the World Heritage Kuk Agricultural Site and other sites listed on the World Heritage tentative list.
  • Expressions of interest were sought from non-government organisations to partner the Papua New Guinea Government to deliver the Kuk Management Plan as required by the World Heritage Centre.
  • In Vanuatu, partnerships with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and Stepwise Heritage and Tourism helped local community and provincial and national level governments strengthen governance of Chief Roi Mata’s Domain World Heritage property.
• The department’s Heritage Division provided advice to the Approvals and Wildlife Division on 96 referrals for proposed actions for significant impacts on the values of places in the National Heritage List or on Commonwealth land, including places in the Commonwealth Heritage List.

Evaluation

Heritage Grants Programs

Two evaluations of Jobs Fund Heritage began in 2010–11 and were in progress at 30 June 2011:

• Courage Partners evaluated the effectiveness in delivering heritage outcomes; the social and economic benefits of heritage grants; the level of unmet demand, and opportunities for improving and widening future Australian Government involvement in heritage initiatives. It studied 40 projects, made up of 30 successful projects and 10 unsuccessful ones.
• Sweeney Research evaluated the Jobs and Training Compact under which the Jobs Fund Heritage Program was implemented. Five heritage projects were evaluated to determine their impact on employment, training and stimulation of the local economy.
  Jobs Fund Heritage was also audited by the Australian National Audit Office—the results were not available by 30 June 2011.

Kokoda Initiative

In late 2009 the Papua New Guinea and Australian governments conducted a joint evaluation of the effectiveness of the First Joint Understanding on the Kokoda Track and Owen Stanley Ranges. The evaluation found significant progress in returning essential services to Kokoda Track communities and reforming and restoring confidence in the Kokoda Track Authority. The review identified that progress had been made in the more complex and long-term management issues, such as protection and World Heritage.

The review informed the Second Joint Understanding, promoting stronger engagement and leadership by the Papua New Guinea Government, and increasing the emphasis on sustainability and capacity building through the use of partner agencies such as the Kokoda Track Authority and the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation. The review recommended strengthening the joint program planning processes, which was addressed in 2010–11 through a joint design process to implement the Second Joint Understanding.

Outcome 5, program 5.2

Deliverables

Deliverables	Results
Provision of grant funding to assist protection, conservation and promotion of nationally significant historical heritage places, and for the identification, conservation and promotion of the Indigenous heritage values of places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.	Grants programs were successfully administered, delivering funding to support heritage protection, conservation and interpretation.
Additional places listed on the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists under the EPBC Act, and effective heritage management arrangements are supported for World, National and Commonwealth Heritage Listed places.	Additional places were listed on the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists.
Assisting Australians to learn about, access and enjoy their heritage, including through raising the profile of heritage and awareness of the contribution it makes to our lives.	The Australian Heritage Week was implemented successfully, and the National Historic Sites Program launched.
Provision of funding to state and territory agencies to help protect and manage shipwrecks and their relics that are in waters covered by the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.	The Historic Shipwrecks Program funded administration by states and the territories of the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. In 2010–11 the department successfully moved from a grant-based funding program to multi-year Service Level Agreements with the states, the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island.
To strengthen the integrity of the World Heritage Convention, and to assist countries in Australia’s region with its implementation, including: Working with UNESCO and other World Heritage Committee members to improve the policies and processes of the Convention; Working with UNESCO and the Cambodian Government to help protect Angkor, and Assisting Pacific Island countries with implementation of the World Heritage Convention.	Key initiatives were submitted by Australia for adoption by the World Heritage Committee to increase the integrity of the World Heritage Convention. Provision of assistance to Pacific Island countries to nominate new places to the World Heritage List and to protect places already inscribed.
To assist Papua New Guinea to protect the historic values of the Kokoda Track.	Assistance provided to Papua New Guinea to protect the historic values of the Kokoda Track and improve the livelihood of local communities along the Track.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPIs	Results
In 2010–11 the program will:
Provide funding for at least 20 projects to protect and conserve nationally significant historical heritage places (including memorials to eminent Australians), and for 50 projects to identify, conserve and protect Australia’s Indigenous Heritage.	Jobs Fund Heritage program delivered funding of $45 million to 158 projects; 191 Jobs Fund Heritage projects completed. National Heritage Sites program funded 47 projects. National Trust Partnership Program was established, providing $2.7 million over three years.   Commemorating Eminent Australians program supported five projects. The Indigenous Heritage Program provided $3.6 million to 55 projects.
Protect and identify Australia’s heritage areas by listing: 10 new National Heritage places.	Seven places listed. Two places received final assessments for a listing decision. Five places under consideration for listing under extended deadlines.
60 new Commonwealth Heritage places.	Two places listed. Consideration on 58 final assessments for listing.
Consider and process 100% of applications or referrals under Australian heritage laws.	96 referrals for proposed actions considered.
Launch Australian Heritage Week including the National Historic Sites Program.	Australian Heritage Week launched in April 2011. $300 000 provided for 31 projects. 321 events registered on the Australian Heritage Week website.
Provide funding to state and territory agencies to help protect and manage shipwrecks and relics in waters covered by the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.	$440 000 provided. Adaption of multi-year Service Level Agreements.
Actively contribute to improving World Heritage Committee policies and practices.	Support was given to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Kiribati to implement the World Heritage Convention.
Assist five countries in our region to identify or protect their World Heritage.	The Solomon Islands were supported to establish partnerships with non-government organisations.
Ensure the Kokoda Track is well-managed, improved services and opportunities are provided to Track communities, and progress the development of a long-term plan to protect its values.	$14.9 million provided under the Kokoda Initiative. $4.9 million provided under the Kokoda Track Safety Package (2009–2011).

Resources

The following resources relate to information referred to in Outcome 5, Heritage Conservation.

Australia's heritage
www.environment.gov.au/heritage

Working Together: Managing Commonwealth Heritage Places
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/protecting/working-together-commonwealth.html

Maheno Wreck Fraser Island. (Shannon Muir)

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