FAQs

The LHS is an information only resource that identifies places in the local district that are or may become of cultural heritage significance. The Heritage Act 2018 (the Act) requires local governments to prepare a LHS and defines the purpose of an LHS as:

i.          Identifying and recording places that are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance in its district; and 

ii.         Assisting the local government in making and implementing decisions that are in harmony with cultural heritage values; and 

iii.        Providing a cultural and historical record of its district; and 

iv.        Providing an accessible public record of places of cultural heritage significance to its district; and 

v.         Assisting the local government in preparing a heritage list or list of heritage areas under a local planning scheme.

Places assessed as having cultural heritage significance are included on the LHS. The Act defines the term place as “a defined or readily identifiable area of land and may include any of the following things in, on or over the land –

1. Archaeological remains;
2. Buildings, structures, other built forms, and their surrounds;
3. Equipment, furniture, fittings and other objects that are historically or physically associated with the land;
4. Gardens and man-made parks or sites;
5. A tree or group of trees (whether planted or naturally occurring) in or adjacent to a man-made setting.”

Cultural heritage significance is assessed on the aesthetic, historic, social and scientific values of a place. The Heritage Council of WA has developed criteria to assess the heritage significance of places at a local level. These criteria adhere to well-established best practice in the identification and assessment of heritage places and areas and are used by the City to assess places and areas of local heritage significance. 

The City's Local Planning Policy 3.2 - Assessment of Cultural Heritage Significance outlines the criteria used for assessing heritage significance. 

The City will commission a suitably qualified and experienced heritage professional to undertake the assessment of places.

All relevant information and submissions will be presented to Council for consideration. The final determination on the content of the LHS lies with Council.

The LHS is an information only resource. Inclusion on the LHS has no implications for the development of a property over and above the requirements that are already in place as part of the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 5 (LPS 5).

One of the functions of the LHS is to help inform the preparation of a Heritage List under the Local Planning Scheme. However inclusion on the LHS does not necessarily mean the place will be considered for inclusion on the Heritage List. 

To be considered for inclusion on the Heritage List a place must be of a level of cultural heritage significance to be deemed by Council as worthy of built heritage conservation. Generally this only applies to individual places that are identified as having either exceptional (level 1) or considerable significance (level 2) to the City. Places identified as being of some significance (level 3) are only referred to Council for consideration for inclusion in the Heritage List upon the receipt of a written request from the owner of that property. 

Consideration for inclusion on the Heritage List is a separate process to the LHS and is undertaken in consultation with the property owner. The process for considering inclusions to the Heritage List is outlined in Local Planning Policy 3.1 - Additions and amendments to the LHS, Heritage List and Heritage Areas.  

Heritage areas designated under the Local Planning Scheme are areas that, in the opinion of Council, require special planning controls to conserve and enhance their cultural heritage significance and character. If a heritage area is included on the LHS it does not necessarily mean that it will be considered by Council as requiring special planning controls. 

The process for considering the designation of Heritage Areas is a separate process to the LHS and is outlined in Local Planning Policy 3.1 – Additions and amendments to the LHS, Heritage List and Heritage Areas.

The Act requires local governments to prepare and regularly review the LHS. The last time the City reviewed the LHS was in 2002. 

In addition to meeting its statutory obligations under the Act the review will ensure that the City: 

• Achieves the Built Environment Vision and objectives in the Strategic Community Plan
• Achieves Actions K3 and K4 of the Heritage Strategy
• Has an accurate and comprehensive record of the cultural heritage values of places in the precinct
• Has an updated LHS for the precinct that reflects the views of the Council and its community in regard to heritage
• Has an LHS that meets current standards and best practice as contained in Local Planning Policy 3.2 – Assessment of cultural heritage significance (LPP3.2)  and the Guidelines for Local Heritage Surveys prepared under section 105 of the Act.

The Guidelines for Local Heritage Surveys published under section 105 of the Act allows for minor and/or area specific reviews of the LHS. Council has chosen a precinct by precinct approach to review the LHS.

To date the LHS for the Triangle (2020), West Subiaco (2021/2022) and Daglish (2023/2024) precincts have been reviewed. The Shenton Park Precinct is the next precinct to be reviewed.

The City is establishing a Heritage Reference Group (HRG) to oversee and assist with the review process and inform the consultation and engagement with the wider community. Nominations for inclusions on the LHS will be invited from the community and will be assessed by a heritage professional engaged by the City. The formal consultation process will occur once the draft LHS has been prepared. This will be an opportunity for the wider community to have their say. 

The process that will be followed is detailed in this flowchart: 

If your property is on the current LHS you do not need to re-nominate. As part of the review process your property will be re-assessed to consider changes that may have occurred since it was last reviewed. As the property owner you will be advised of the assessment process and invited to participate.