FAQs
What is Heritage and why is it Important
Heritage is what we inherit from previous generations and recognise as something that we want to pass on to future generations. Heritage helps us to understand the story of both Western Australia and the local community - our history, identity, and diversity.
Heritage is wide-ranging and consists of buildings, structures, gardens, cemeteries, landscapes, heritage areas, shipwrecks, and archaeological sites. We want to protect and pass on significant examples of these places to future generations so they will be able to enjoy a rich and diverse cultural environment and understand what came before them. Because heritage is not only about buildings, we use the term ‘heritage place’.
What is a Local Heritage Survey?
A Local Heritage Survey (LHS) includes places and areas of local heritage significance within the boundaries of a local government. Heritage places will be assessed as Category 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 places depending on their level of significance and offers NO legal protection to these places.
It is a requirement under Part 8 of the Heritage Act 2018 that local governments prepare, maintain and review a local government survey of places in its district that are, or may become of cultural heritage significance. The Local Heritage Survey assists local governments to:
(a) identify and record places that are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance in its district;
(b) assist the local government in making and implementing decisions that are in harmony with cultural heritage values;
(c) provide a cultural and historical record of its district;
(d) provide an accessible public record of places of cultural heritage significance to its district; and
(e) assists the local government in preparing a heritage list or list of heritage areas under a local planning scheme.
What is a Heritage List?
Schedule 2, Part 3, Cl. 8(1) of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015 requires local government to establish and maintain a heritage list to identify places in the scheme area that are of cultural heritage significance and worthy of built heritage conservation.
A Heritage List relies on the Local Planning Survey to identify the most significant heritage places in the Town that warrant protection by the category assigned to a heritage place. The Town proposes to include heritage places with a category of 1 (exceptional significance), 2 (considerable significance) & 3 (some significance) to the Town's Heritage List. Unlike the Local Heritage Survey, the Heritage List is legally binding and connects to planning laws, therefore has legal powers to protect the most significant heritage places in the Town.
The Council will make the ultimate decision of what places to adopt onto the Town’s Heritage List.
How is a place identified as having cultural heritage significance?
Heritage significance refers to places of cultural heritage significance to the Council that may warrant documenting in the Town's Local Heritage Survey. There are 5 categories of heritage places, with category 1 being the highest of heritage significance.
Each place is assessed for cultural heritage significance using a set of criteria in accordance with the ‘Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter’ (2013) and the ‘Guide lines for the Assessment of Local Heritage Places’ (2022). Note that a place does not need to demonstrate all values and qualities – it may be of cultural heritage significance if it meets any one of these. The criteria are outlined in the following table.
What are management categories?
Each place is assigned a Level of Significance according to the values assessed using the criteria indicators including aesthetic, historic, scientific, social, spiritual, rarity and representativeness. Classifications and their management statement and description are summarised in the table below:
Classifications of Significance:
LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE AND DESCRIPTION | CLASSIFICATION | MANAGEMENT STATEMENT | MANAGEMENT DESCRIPTION |
Exceptional - Essential to the heritage of Mosman Park. | Category 1 | Conservation of the place is essential. The place should be retained and conserved. Any alterations or extensions should reinforce the significance of the place, and be in accordance with a Conservation Plan (if one exists). | These places are the most important places to the local community, as well as being of significance to the State. They may be a rare or outstanding example. |
Considerable - Very important to the heritage of Mosman Park. | Category 2 | Conservation of the place is highly desirable. The place should be retained and managed sensitively. For buildings this means original fabric should be retained; and any alterations or extensions should reinforce the significance of the place. | These places are very important to the Town of Mosman Park for their role in the history of the area. They are the most important places to the local community, but not of significance to the State. |
Some - Contributes to the heritage of Mosman Park. | Category 3 | Conservation of the place is desirable. The place should be retained and managed sensitively. For buildings this means original fabric should be retained wherever feasible; most importantly that which is visible from the street. Any alterations or extensions should reinforce the significance of the place. | These places are important for telling the story of the development and history of Mosman Park. |
Little - Has elements or values worth noting for community interest but otherwise makes little contribution. | Category 4 | Conservation of the place is not necessary. Should the place be proposed for demolition, or substantially altered so that its heritage values are lost, the Town may request that the owner provide an Archival Record as a condition of approval of the development application. | These places contribute to but are not necessary for telling the story of the development and history of Mosman Park. |
Historic Site - Has significance for its previous use and role in the development of Mosman Park. | Category 5 | This place should be included in heritage initiatives such as interpretive signage, heritage/ walk trails, research, and education projects. | These places are worthy of noting for reference and community interest. Their values do not rely on tangible physical evidence. They may have historic or social value, potential archaeological value, or provoke strong memories for the community. |
How many Local Heritage Surveys has the Town had?
The Town of Mosman Park (the Town) adopted its first Local Heritage Survey (LHS), then called a Municipal Heritage Inventory (MHI) in 1998. The second MHI was adopted in 2014. Since then the Heritage Act 2018 has been introduced and the Heritage Council of Western Australia has issued new guidelines. These changes prompted the Town to engage Element Advisory (element) to undertake a review of the Local Heritage Survey (LHS) and Heritage List.
Can Aboriginal heritage sites be included in the Local Heritage Survey?
Where a place has cultural heritage significance not solely connected with Aboriginal tradition or culture, it may be included in the Local Heritage Survey. Places that only reference Aboriginal history are not as they are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.
Places that are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 are identified in Appendix 1 of the Amended Draft Local Heritage Survey. This legislation takes precedence over the Heritage Act 2018 where their cultural heritage significance is solely connected with Aboriginal tradition or culture.
How does entry of a place on the Town's Heritage List affect private landowners?
Entry on the Heritage List means that the heritage values of the place are recognised in the statutory planning framework. The impact of future development proposals on the heritage values of the place will be a key consideration in the assessing of a development application, as well as the normal planning considerations such as building height limits, setback distances from boundaries etc.
A Heritage Impact Statement will be required to be provided with a development application which is required to be prepared by a suitable qualified professional to ensure development does not have an adverse impact on heritage values.
What happens to my comments?
Your comments will be carefully considered as part of the process to finalise the policy before it is presented to Council for final adoption.
If you make a submission, we will let you know when the policy will be considered by Council for final adoption. This engagement page will also be updated with information.
How can I stay up to date with the project?
If you have created a YourSay account we will send an email newsletter updating you on the project. If you have filled out the survey without creating an account we will use the email provided in your answers to keep you up to date.