Heritage

    What is heritage?

    Heritage consists of the places and objects that we have inherited from the past and want to pass on to future generations. It defines us as a community: who we are and where we have come from. In other words it is the things we want to keep. These things can include landmarks, buildings and contents, spaces, views, objects and the stories associated with them.

    Why is heritage important?

    Heritage is important in understanding the story of our community – its history, identity and its people. It reflects our values and promotes a sense of identity and pride. Protecting and promoting heritage can also provide environmental, social and economic benefits for the community.

    Local government, property owners and members of the community all have a role to play in ensuring that the valuable asset of our heritage is recognised, protected, respected and promoted.

    What role does local government play in managing heritage?

    Local governments play an important role in managing local heritage. This includes: 

    • identifying heritage places in its Local Heritage Survey
    • increasing awareness and appreciation of the area’s local history and heritage
    • protecting heritage places considered worthy of built heritage conservation through statutory mechanisms
    • ensuring that the conservation and enhancement of heritage places is considered in the assessment of development applications
    • facilitating and encouraging the conservation and enhancement of heritage places by implementing heritage incentive programs and assistance measures. 

    Where can I find out more about heritage in the City of Subiaco?

    The City’s website, at www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/builtheritage contains a range of information relating to heritage.

Local Heritage Survey

    What is a Local Heritage Survey (LHS)?

    The LHS is an information resource that identifies places in the local district that are or may become of cultural heritage significance. The LHS provides the City with a cultural and historical record of the area and tells the story of the development of the district.

    It is not an instrument for development control so there are no statutory implications for property owners. Owners are still free to develop their properties in accordance with the local planning framework.

    The Heritage Act 2018 (the Act) requires local governments to prepare a LHS and defines the purpose of an LHS as:

    1. Identifying and recording places that are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance in its district; and 
    2. Assisting the local government in making and implementing decisions that are in harmony with cultural heritage values; and 
    3. Providing a cultural and historical record of its district; and 
    4. Providing an accessible public record of places of cultural heritage significance to its district; and 
    5. Assisting the local government in preparing a heritage list or list of heritage areas under a local planning scheme.

    What is included on a Local Heritage Survey (LHS)?

    Places assessed as having cultural heritage significance are included on the LHS. Places can be individual buildings, groups of buildings, streetscapes, gardens, manmade parks, trees and archaeological remains.

    Why is the LHS being reviewed?

    The Heritage Act 2018 requires local governments to prepare and regularly review their LHS. The last time the City reviewed its LHS was in 2002.

    Why are we only reviewing the LHS in the West Subiaco Precinct?

    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.  

    What are the criteria for inclusion and exclusion from the LHS?

    Cultural heritage significance is assessed on the aesthetic, historic, social and scientific values of a place. A place or area is considered to be of cultural heritage significance if it meets one or more of these criteria. For further information on the criteria used for assessing heritage significance view the fact sheet Criteria for the Assessment of Cultural Heritage Significance.

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

    Who makes the final decision on which properties are included on the Local Heritage Survey?

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

    What is the difference between a LHS and a legally binding Heritage Listing (Heritage List or Heritage Area designation)?

    The LHS is a record of places of cultural heritage significance and tells the important story of the development of the district. It is not an instrument for development control so there are no binding statutory implications for owners who are free to develop their properties in accordance with the local planning framework provisions that apply to all properties in the City.

    As outlined in Table 1 below the Heritage List and designated Heritage Areas are different as they form part of the Local Planning Scheme. Properties included on the Heritage List are properties of a level of cultural heritage significance that Council considers worthy of some protection. Heritage Areas designated under the Local Planning Scheme are areas which Council considers require special planning controls to conserve and enhance their cultural heritage significance and character.

    Table 1 – Difference between the LHS, Heritage List and Heritage Areas designated under the Local Planning Scheme

     

    Local Heritage Survey

    Heritage List under Scheme

    Heritage Areas under Scheme

    Statutory Authority

    Heritage Act 2018

    Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015 – Deemed Provisions

    Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015 – Deemed Provisions

    Purpose

    Identifies places and areas that have heritage value to the local area.

    Affords legal protection to places identified as worthy of built heritage conservation

    Allows for the protection of a collective heritage value of a group of places through a Local Planning Policy

    Development Approval Required

    No

    Yes

    *exemptions do not apply to most works

    Yes

    *exemptions do not apply to most works

     

    What is the relationship between LHS and the Heritage List? That is, does being on the LHS mean that there is a higher likelihood of the property being included on the Heritage List?

    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. The relationship between the LHS and Heritage List is outlined in Flowchart 1 below.

     Consideration for inclusion on the Heritage List is a separate process to the LHS and is undertaken in close consultation with the property owner.

    If a heritage area is included on the Local Heritage Survey does this mean it will be designated as a heritage area under the Local Planning Scheme?

    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 relationship between the LHS and Heritage Areas designated under the Local Planning Scheme is outlined in Flowchart 1 below.

    The process for considering the designation of Heritage Areas is a separate process to the LHS and is undertaken in close consultation with affected property owners and residents. 

     Flowchart 1 

    The process for considering the designation of Heritage Areas is a separate process to the LHS and is undertaken in close consultation with affected property owners and residents.

What does being on the LHS mean?

    What implications are there for my property being on the LHS?

    The LHS is not legally binding so there are no implications for properties included on the LHS.

    Does being on the LHS have any implications for developing or renovating a property?

    No. The LHS is a record of the development of the district and 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 framework.

    How does being on the LHS impact on my property value?

    Because inclusion on the LHS has no implications on what you can do to your property it should not affect your property’s value. Like any property, its value will be affected by a range of factors including size, location, trends in the real estate market cycle and the quality and maintenance of the property.

    Does inclusion on the LHS affect ownership or access?

    No, the LHS does not affect ownership or access. Places remain the sole property of the owner, and the owner's rights remain the same as with places that are not on the LHS.

    What are the advantages to being on the LHS?

    As part of the process of including a place on the LHS the history of each place is carefully researched. You may find out some interesting things about your property should it be included.

    What are the disadvantages to being on the LHS?

    Because information in the LHS can be used to inform the development of the Heritage List and the designation of Heritage Areas under the Local Planning Scheme, inclusion on the LHS could be perceived as the first step towards a legally binding heritage listing resulting in greater development controls to property owners

    What incentives and assistance measures does the City provide to owners of heritage listed properties?

    The City is committed to assisting owners to conserve heritage places wherever possible and has developed a range of assistance measures. Owners of places on the Heritage List or located within a heritage area designated under the Local Planning Scheme are eligible for a range of heritage incentives offered by the City including:

    • grant funding for conservation works
    • complimentary expert heritage advice and guidance from the City’s panel of heritage advisors
    • waiving of planning (development) application fees
    • planning incentives in the form of variations to any requirement of the Local Planning Scheme and Residential Design Codes. 

Existing LHS

    How do I know if my property is on the existing LHS?

    If your property is on the existing LHS you would have been notified of the review in writing and invited to participate in the re-assessment of your property.

    Do properties that are already on the LHS automatically stay on the LHS?

    As part of the review process all properties already on the LHS have been re-assessed to consider changes that may have occurred since it was last reviewed. The assessment outcomes recommend whether a property stays on LHS, is removed from the LHS or whether its level of significance should be amended. As the property owner you will be advised of the assessment and consulted throughout the review process.

    If my property is already on the LHS, can I have it removed?

    The decision as to whether to remove or include a place on the LHS is a decision of Council. As part of the review process you will be invited to make a submission on the reviewed LHS. All relevant information and submissions will be presented to Council for consideration.

LHS nominations

    Can I nominate my property to be on the LHS?

    Yes, you still can. The official nomination period has closed however the City will continue to accept nominations from property owners during the consultation period 

    If someone else nominates my property, will I be informed? Can I reject the nomination?

    If your property is nominated you will be advised of the nomination and invited to participate in the assessment process. If your place and or street is assessed as being of cultural heritage significance any proposal to consider including it on the Local Heritage Survey will be undertaken with stakeholder consultation and no decision will be made without your knowledge and prior consultation. If you object to the inclusion of your property on the LHS you will have the opportunity to make a submission when the draft LHS is advertised for public comment. All information pertaining to the cultural heritage significance of places and the submissions received will be presented to Council for consideration.

    Can I nominate someone else's property to be on the LHS?

    Yes. You do not need to be the property owner to nominate a place for consideration for inclusion on the LHS. The City welcomes nominations from the public.

    If my property is on the current LHS do I need to re-nominate?

    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. this may result in a change to the level of the significance of the place. As the property owner you will be advised of the assessment process and invited to participate.

    How do I nominate a place for inclusion on the LHS?

    Nominations can be made through completing the online nomination form on this page. Alternatively, nominations can be submitted by mail, by hand or by email to  city@subiaco.wa.gov.au.

More information

    Where can I get more information about the review of LHS of the West Subiaco Precinct?

    The City’s heritage officer is available during office hours to answer any questions. Residents can either phone 9237 9222 and/or arrange a meeting.