Management strategies and plans
The Council has a role in advising on management plans for Commonwealth owned or controlled places that are in the National or Commonwealth Heritage Lists. It also has a role in the development of heritage strategies for Commonwealth agencies in relation to the management of places to protect their Commonwealth Heritage values.
In relation to National Heritage places in Commonwealth areas, the Minister must, before making, amending or replacing a management plan, seek and consider comments from the Council (subsection 324S(6) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)).
Heritage strategies for Commonwealth Heritage places
An important element of the preservation and appropriate management of Commonwealth Heritage places is the development of a heritage strategy - a document that integrates heritage conservation and management within the agency's overall property planning and management framework. Its purpose is to help the agency manage and report on the steps it has taken to protect and conserve the Commonwealth Heritage values of properties under its ownership or control.
The Council plays a role in examining heritage strategies and providing advice on their further development. The EPBC Act requires Australian Government agencies to consult with the Council and take its advice on their heritage strategies(section 341ZA (1A ) of the EPBC Act).
A heritage strategy must be prepared by each agency that owns or controls one or more places with heritage values. The size and the complexity of the strategy will reflect the size of the agency's property holdings and management responsibilities.
An agency has two years from the commencement of the new heritage legislation, or from the time it first owns or controls a place, in which to develop a heritage strategy and provide it to the Minister.
Completed heritage strategies
The Council has reviewed a number of heritage strategies prepared by agencies, including those from the following agencies which have completed their heritage strategies:
- Air Services Australia
- Department of Defence
- Department of Transport and Regional Services
- National Capital Authority
- Department of the Environment and Heritage
- Great Barrier Reef marine Park Authority
- Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Department of Finance and Administration
- National Library of Australia
- Office of the Governor General
There are a number of agencies yet to complete their heritage strategies. Although it is anticipated that some of these agencies will complete their strategies in the near future, the current number of completed strategies is disappointing and the Council intends to continue monitoring this aspect of heritage management.
As a result of the change in administrative orders following the 2007 election, some agencies may be required to update their heritage strategies.
Management plans for Commonwealth Heritage places
The Minister must consult with the Council in preparing his advice to Commonwealth agencies on the making, amending or replacing a management plan for Commonwealth Heritage places (subsection 341S(7) of the EPBC Act).
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