Brimbank Heritage
Strategy
2018 - 2023
Adopted 11 December 2018
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
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Brimbank City Council is proud to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands
throughout the Municipality, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
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Executive Summary
The Heritage Strategy (the Strategy) will assist Brimbank City Council (Council) in
conserving and promoting the post contact heritage within the City of Brimbank (the
City), in a way that is strategic and integrated across the Council. The Strategy will
ensure that Council is well placed to manage and protect the heritage values of the City.
.
The Strategy provides the overarching policy context for heritage protection and
management, reaffirms Council’s vision for heritage, key objectives for heritage
protection and management within the City, and identifies the key actions needed to
give effect to the vision and objectives.
This Strategy continues the work program established in the Brimbank Heritage Strategy
2013 – 2017 and identifies further work required to continue to protect and manage
heritage places in the City. Delivery of the work program requires an all of Council
response. The work program responds to emerging issues and gaps in the management
and protection of heritage places in the City, and is informed by The Burra Charter, the
State Planning Policy Framework, the
Heritage Act 2006
(Amendment Act 2016), the
Planning and Environment Act 1987
and feedback from engagement with land owners of
heritage assets within the City.
The Strategy re-establishes the overall management framework to guide the future
heritage assessment and management initiatives for heritage places. The Strategy is
consistent with the Municipal Heritage Strategies: A Guide for Councils, prepared by
Heritage Victoria and the Department of Planning and Community Development (now
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) which directs that the Strategy
is framed around the following four key themes:
1.
Knowing – identification, assessment and documentation of heritage places
2.
Protecting – policy development, statutory protection, appropriate management
3.
Supporting – assistance, advice and incentives to help conserve heritage places
4.
Communicating and Promoting – measures to raise awareness and appreciation of
the heritage of the area.
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Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................... iv
1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 6
2. Background and Context .............................................................................. 7
2.1. History
............................................................................................... 7
2.2. Policy Context
.................................................................................... 9
3. Achievements............................................................................................. 12
Key Considerations........................................................................................... 14
3.1. Community Engagement
................................................................... 14
3.2. Issues and Opportunities
................................................................. 14
4. The Strategy .............................................................................................. 16
Our Vision
.................................................................................................. 16
5. Key Themes................................................................................................ 17
5.1. Knowing
........................................................................................... 17
5.2. Protecting
......................................................................................... 18
5.3. Supporting
........................................................................................ 19
5.4. Communication and Promoting
......................................................... 20
6. Five Year Action Plan ................................................................................. 21
6.1. Knowing
........................................................................................... 22
6.2. Protecting
......................................................................................... 23
6.3. Supporting
........................................................................................ 24
6.4. Communicating and Promoting
........................................................ 25
7. Strategy Review ......................................................................................... 26
1. Introduction
Heritage is the diversity of places, objects and culture that define us. It includes
landscapes, structures, objects, collections and stories and is part of our shared histories,
handed from one generation to the next.
Heritage places are managed through a range of Federal, State and local laws, bodies and
agencies. Council has an obligation to conserve and protect the City of Brimbank’s cultural
and built heritage under State and Local planning policy. In addition to legislative
requirements, there are non-statutory measures that support the conservation of
heritage. These include the management and display of historic collections, sharing
knowledge of heritage places and supporting owners of heritage places to manage their
properties.
The City’s history is reflected in its indigenous cultural heritage, and agricultural, industrial and
urban development that developed from the early 1800s. The municipality has a rich heritage
of buildings, residential, commercial and industrial precincts, landscapes, gardens, trees and
objects including the Hume and Hovell bluestone cairn.
This Strategy represents the review and update of the Brimbank Heritage Strategy 2013 –
2015, which was adopted by Council at its Ordinary Meeting on 23 March 2013. The Strategy
builds on the heritage controls in the Brimbank Planning Scheme by identifying projects and
initiatives that contribute to heritage protection, restoration and reuse of heritage buildings and
sites. The Strategy also aims to increase community awareness and education about heritage
within the municipality.
At the same time this Strategy has been revised, Council also revised and updated the
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Strategy 1997 and has prepared the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
Strategy 2018-2023. This Strategy focuses on European or post-contact heritage while the
Aboriginal Cultural Strategy 2018-2023 is focussed on heritage prior to contact with European
settlers. Both Strategies outline objectives and actions to document, manage and promote the
City’s cultural heritage. The Natural Heritage Strategy 1997 was developed to conserve and
protect the City's significant natural heritage.
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2. Background and Context
2.1. History
The term heritage is commonly associated with built heritage and has generally referred to
European or post-contact heritage, where buildings, groups of buildings, archaeological sites,
gardens, landscapes and shipwrecks tell a tale of our development since settlement, a period of
over 200 years. However, this heritage does not tell of a history of this country that dates back
tens of thousands of years.
The municipal area has a distinct natural landscape, including important remnant grasslands
and wetlands, rock-faces, basalt escarpments and the incised valleys of the Maribyrnong River
and Kororoit Creek.
Victorian Traditional Owners have difficulties in proving the delineation of traditional boundaries
due to their dispossession from their lands and customs, their relocation to missions and
reserves, and the breaking up of families through mission and stolen generation policies, as well
as current legislation that does not recognise these issues.
The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act (2006) established Registered Aboriginal Parties (Raps) to
act as the “primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage.”
The RAPs hold decision-making responsibilities for protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage in a
specified geographical area. Only part of the Brimbank Council area is covered by an appointed
RAP, who represent the Woi Wurrung language group; the Wurundjeri Land and Compensation
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council Corporation. For that part of the municipality not covered
by a RAP, there are several groups that represent the Bunurong/Boonwurrung language group
have also claimed traditional and/or familial links to part of the Brimbank municipality.
The extensive volcanic plains were one of the earliest areas of post contact settlement in
Victoria. From the early 1800s they were transformed by large pastoral estates with extensive
stone walls, homesteads, irrigation projects, a vineyard, stockbreeding, dairies and
outbuildings. The City’s area had a significant association with the Bendigo gold diggings with
the main transport route to the diggings through the Keilor Village. Other significant legacies
include the Main Outfall Sewer at Brooklyn (Brimbank HO13); the Trestle Bridge at Arundel
Road, Keilor (HO15); and the Rail Bridge (Albion Viaduct) often referred to as the ‘Quartermile
Bridge’, over Maribyrnong River between Jacana and Albion Stations, Keilor East (HO5)
The City has significant industrial heritage. The first factory in the area, developed by German
engineers in Deer Park, became Australia’s leading explosives and chemical factory. The
Sunshine Harvester Works was once the largest farm implement factory in the southern
hemisphere. Other factories include the John Darling Flour Mill, the former Wunderlich factory,
and large scale meat works, metal industries and engineering works. Much of Melbourne’s
paving and early buildings came from the bluestone (basalt) quarries located across the City.
From the 1850s onwards, churches, halls and community centres developed, along with planned
housing estates, including one of the first ‘garden suburbs’ in Australia located in Sunshine. This
was followed by more development in the 1940s-1950s, which included munition worker
housing on a Commonwealth estate in East Sunshine, post World War II housing development
in Sunshine West, Deer Park, St. Albans and west of Keilor associated with European migration,
followed by Asian and African migration in the 1980s and 90s.
Culturally, the municipality is one of the most diverse in Australia, with a large proportion of
residents born overseas or from non-English speaking backgrounds.
The early suburbs of Sunshine (formerly Braybrook Junction), St Albans and Deer Park are
clustered around the Sunbury railway line with the nineteenth century village of Keilor located
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on the road to the goldfields. The City of Brimbank was formed following the restructure of
Victorian municipal government in 1994, and amalgamated the former Cities of Keilor and
Sunshine.
Brimbank Heritage Assets Included in a Heritage Overlay
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2.2. Policy Context
The Strategy is informed by the following state and local policies and strategies:
Federal Government
•
The Burra Charter 2013
A set of principles that have been adopted to create a nationally accepted standard for
heritage conservation practice in Australia.
Victorian State Government
•
Victorian Heritage Act 1986 (VH Act)
•
Planning & Environment Act 1987 (P&E Act)
•
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (AH Act)
•
State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) –Clause 15.03 Heritage Conservation.
Brimbank City Council
•
Brimbank City Council Plan 2017-2021
Sets out objectives, activities and strategic indicators for Council to achieve its strategic
directions for an Inclusive Community; a Liveable Community; a Prosperous Community;
and an Innovative and Responsive “Community First” Council.
•
Brimbank Biodiversity Strategy 2012-2022
After reviewing the condition and extent of Brimbank’s natural heritage, Council developed
the Natural Heritage Strategy (1997), its goal is to conserve and protect the City's
significant natural heritage.
The Biodiversity Strategy replaces the Brimbank Natural Heritage Strategy (1997) as
Council’s key document for conserving and protecting Brimbank’s significant natural
heritage. The Brimbank Natural Heritage Strategy (1997) remains the key Council document
for geological and geomorphic matters.
•
Brimbank Local Historical Societies Support Policy 2017
Guides Council support for historical associations in the City.
•
Experience Brimbank Visitor Strategy 2018–2023
Identifies how to promote the City of Brimbank as a destination, and showcase the City’s
unique attractions to attract more visitors, including its heritage and cultural assets.
•
Brimbank City Council Creating Better Parks – Brimbank Open Space and Playground Policy
and Plan 2016
Guides Council to meet the needs of existing and future communities by creating an
attractive, integrated, accessible and comprehensive open space network for the City
recognising the important role in the protection and enhancement of environmental, cultural
and heritage values.
•
Brimbank Planning Scheme
Sets out objectives, policies and provisions for the use, development and protection of land
in the City and includes clauses specific to heritage including Clause 22.01 (Brimbank
Heritage Policy), Clause 15.03 (Heritage), Clause 43.01 (Heritage Overlay)
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Brimbank Post-Contact Cultural Heritage Study (Version 2, 2015 as amended)
This Study provides an inventory and assessment of buildings and precincts and other places of
aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social or other special importance within the
municipality. The Strategy used photographs, maps and documents held in the collections of
Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West and the Sydenham, Keilor, St. Albans and the Sunshine
and District Historical Societies as background data.
The 2005 review of the Brimbank Post-Contact Cultural Heritage Study resulted in the
investigation of additional sites which were later given protection through a Heritage Overlay in
the Brimbank Planning Scheme, consistent with the objectives of the
Planning and Environment
Act 1987
which provides that:
•
Local government carry out its role as a planning authority in relation to planning scheme
amendments and apply Heritage Overlays on areas which have heritage significance.
•
Local government process planning applications as the responsible authority and consider
the Heritage Overlays.
Council adopted the Brimbank Post-Contact Cultural Heritage Study in 2007 as a reference
document in the Brimbank Planning Scheme which has been updated in 2015 with the Brimbank
Post Contact Cultural Heritage Study, Version 2, 2015.
Further planning scheme amendments introduced heritage controls for 150 sites through the
application of the Heritage Overlay in the Brimbank Planning Scheme, including the following
amendments:
•
08/05/2008: Brimbank C084 (Part 1) Includes 6 heritage precincts and 97 heritage
places in the Heritage Overlay
•
31/03/2011: Brimbank C125 (Part 1) Applied the Heritage Overlay (HO24) to the McKay
Housing Estate - King Edward Avenue Area on a permanent basis and revises the
boundaries of the Heritage Overlay (HO24)
•
01/09/2011:Brimbank C125 (Part 2) Applied the Heritage Overlay to part of the former
McKay Residential Estate in Sunshine and Albion
•
16/08/2016: Brimbank C130: Removed 129-131 Durham Road, Sunshine from the
heritage precinct and introduced an individual Heritage Overlay to the site
•
15/01/2015: Brimbank C167: The amendment removed the site located at 44 Hampshire
Road, Sunshine from the Railway Station Estate heritage precinct (HO25) and applied an
individual Heritage Overlay to the site and one other individually significant site at 233-
241 Hampshire Road, Sunshine
•
14/05/2015: Brimbank C171: Applied permanent heritage controls to 11 King Edward
Avenue Albion and 17-27 Maxweld Street, Ardeer
•
05/08/2015 Brimbank C175: Applied the Heritage Overlay to 127 Durham Road,
Sunshine and 86 Monash Street, Sunshine.
Sites listed in the overlay schedule include stone walls, trees and landscapes, gardens,
subdivision patterns, institutional, farm and industrial buildings, bridges, residences and
historical markers. Thirteen of the sites are also included in Victorian Heritage Register under
the
Heritage Act 1995
. Whilst there are no places listed as being of aboriginal significance in the
Heritage Overlay, there are 427 places included in the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register
(Register). The register holds all the information about known Aboriginal cultural heritage places
and objects within Victoria, with their location and a detailed description.
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In addition to heritage documents, there are four other avenues that address heritage:
•
Brimbank Heritage Policy
•
Conservation Management Plans
•
Heritage Overlay
•
Victorian Heritage Register
Brimbank Heritage Policy, Clause 22.01 of Brimbank Planning Scheme
In 2015 Council included a heritage policy at Clause 22.01 of the Brimbank Planning Scheme
based on the recommendations of the Brimbank Post-Contact Cultural Heritage Study Version 2,
2015. The local heritage policy guides the assessment of permit applications for heritage places
and includes specific recommendations for each heritage precinct.
Conservation Management Plans
Conservation Management Plans for specific heritage precincts have also been prepared and
registered as required, and meet legislative requirements for protecting aboriginal significance.
Heritage Overlay
Heritage Overlays are part of local council planning schemes and include places of local
significance as well as please of state significance included in the Victorian Heritage Register.
Councils are responsible for issuing planning permits for the use and development of local
heritage places under the Planning and Environment Act 1987
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists the State's most significant heritage places, objects and
historic shipwrecks protected under the
Heritage Act 2017.
Heritage Victoria issues permits for
places listed on the Victorian Heritage Register under the Act.
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3. Achievements
Since developing the Heritage Strategy 2013-2015 Council has delivered a range of actions to
protect, support and promote heritage including:
•
Provision of an ongoing heritage advisory service at ‘no charge’ to the user. This involves a
heritage expert conducting site visits and providing advice on restoration and maintenance
of properties listed in the Heritage Overlay, including pre application meetings for an
extension or rear unit development.
•
Establishment of the Brimbank Heritage Advisory Committee in 2013 consisting of
representatives from historical societies and organisations and a Wurundjeri member. The
Committee is chaired by a Brimbank Councillor and continues to meet quarterly to discuss
Council’s heritage work, the work of member organisations and other heritage issues and
opportunities.
•
The Heritage Assistance Fund provided small financial grants (up to $2,000) for restoration
and maintenance works to heritage properties between 2009 and 2016. It was introduced
after Council applied its first large Heritage Overlay to promote the importance of
restoration. It was wound up in 2016 as it had largely performed its purpose and it was not
sustainable for Council to continue funding restoration and maintenance of privately owned
heritage.
•
Council officers have updated and will maintain the heritage layer on Council’s Geographic
Information System (GIS).
•
The delivery of internal heritage workshops for Council staff to increase awareness and
share experiences of protecting heritage places.
•
A heritage page has been included on Council’s website so that heritage information is
available in one location.
•
Council officers have and will continue to update Heritage Victoria’s Heritage Maintenance
Electronic Systems (HERMES) database with statements of significance and photos of
heritage sites and precincts that have been included in the Heritage Overlay.
•
Council’s collection of community heritage items has been used as displays in some of
Council’s public buildings to promote the City of Brimbank’s heritage
•
Council restored the Keilor Cenotaph with a grant from the Restoring Community War
Memorials Grant Program. This included removal of bronze swords, a clean of the masonry
contract fence and landscaping of the area.
•
Council promoted its heritage work through media releases in particular Council published
stories about the Keilor Hut, outcomes of the Heritage Restoration Fund and proposed
heritage amendments in local newspapers.
•
Preparation of the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens Management Plan (November 2017) in
consultation with the Friends of the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens.
•
Construction of the Vietnam War Memorial at Kevin Wheelahan Gardens in Sunshine
completed in 2017 in partnership with the Vietnamese Community Association.
•
The planting of additional Pin Oaks in the existing avenue of honour and interpretive signage
installed at the Kevin Wheelahan Gardens in 2015 to honour the veterans from the Sunshine
District who served in WW1. The project was completed in partnership with Brimbank City
Council, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Returned Services League Australia, the Sunshine
District Historical Sociality Inc and local school children.
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•
The installation of interpretive signage recognising places and objects of heritage
significance installed at key locations including the Hume and Hovell bluestone cairn in Deer
Park in 2014.
•
The ongoing monitoring of heritage grant opportunities which has involved the preparation
of three grant applications to restore the Keilor Police Hut.
•
Council has prepared a number of heritage gap studies which have supported the gazettal of
Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendments (Amendments) C167, C171 and C175 in relation to
the application of the Heritage Overlay. Amendment C130 which sought to include 129–131
Durham Road, Sunshine in the Heritage Overlay was unsuccessful. Council has submitted
Amendment C200 and C202 to the Minister of Planning in relation to the Grand Junction
Precinct Sunshine and a half house in St Albans.
•
Council has and will continue to maintain its heritage owned properties including the former
Keilor Hall, the Keilor Gatehouse and Harrick’s Cottage. Robertsons Homestead requires
major restoration works beyond current work to prevent further deterioration and is the
subject of a larger study in relation to the development of a Master Plan for Sydenham Park.
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Key Considerations
3.1. Community Engagement
This Strategy has been developed with input from the Brimbank Advisory Committee through a
workshop held on 19 December 2017, a community heritage workshop which attracted forty
land owners of heritage properties, and a community survey.
Council also undertook a four week community consultation on the draft Heritage Strategy from
24 September to 26 October 2018.
3.2. Issues and Opportunities
The following issues and opportunities are derived from community engagement and review of
the current situation and work program:
•
Property owners should be required to maintain heritage properties however there isn’t
legislation that mandates this, which can result in ‘demolition by neglect’
•
Heritage provisions are considered too restrictive or unreasonable and some owners would
like to include sustainable features
•
Some community members believe Council should undertake more enforcement and fine
property owners to prevent heritage properties from being run down
•
Council should provide financial support to property owners to help fund the repair and/or
restoration of private heritage
•
Council should support local historical societies so that students and visitors have access to
their collections, and undertake greater promotion of the City’s history Heritage represents
an opportunity for economic development and increased tourism
•
Council could do more to work with and harness community support and resources for
mutual benefit
•
Growth and change needs to be balanced with community expectations about protection of
heritage
•
Owners and developers need more information about the requirements of the Heritage
Overlay and more encouragement and support to work with Council and the Heritage
Adviser when planning renovations and development
•
The Heritage Design Guidelines need to be modified and better promoted
•
Council can lead by example by ensuring that all Council departments recognise, protect and
enhance Council owned heritage
•
There are some gaps in community knowledge about which places are already protected by
the Heritage Overlay and there are other sites which need to be assessed and possibly given
protection
•
Council’s heritage-related information can be difficult to locate on the Council website. More
guidance and better links are needed. Some photographs need to be updated
•
For environmentally aware property owners and architects, heritage is often seen as an
impediment to sustainability, instead of a valuable partner
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•
The Heritage Assistance Fund which provided some support for heritage property owners
from 2009–2016 has been ceased
•
Continue and expand the role of the Heritage Advisor
•
The City of Brimbank’s history needs to be better communicated so that the whole
community, visitors and tourists are aware of its heritage. There could be more displays,
brochures, school materials, walking trails and more access to the local historical societies’
collections
•
Brimbank City Council’s Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan and streetscape works will
continue to provide opportunities for referencing and creating spaces of heritage value
•
The importance of waterways cultural and post contact significance locations (for example
swimming pool in Kororoit creek and the Maribyrnong River and other waterways with
regard to employment history)
•
There is further opportunity to identify heritage properties and places for protection.
•
A focus for future studies could be on the history of the Maribyrnong River and other
waterways in the context of employment history.
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4. The Strategy
This Strategy has been developed in accordance with Heritage Victoria’s Local Government
Heritage Strategies: A guide for Councils (July 2013), using the following four themes:
•
Knowing – identification, assessment and documentation of heritage places
•
Protecting – policy development, statutory protection, appropriate management
•
Supporting – assistance, advice and incentives to help conserve heritage places
•
Communicating and Promoting – measures to raise awareness and appreciation of the
heritage of the area.
Our Vision
Brimbank values and celebrates its diverse heritage, and works
to recognise, protect and promote its significance for future
generations to enjoy.
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5. Key Themes
5.1. Knowing
Purpose:
The Heritage Strategy seeks to identify, assess and document heritage places to ensure that
places of significance are not lost in the future. The Strategy helps identify and inform the
community about these places. Early identification provides greater transparency and certainty
for property owners planning development of their heritage place.
Key Considerations
1. Ensuring there is a program of heritage gap studies to identify and assess properties that
could have sufficient heritage value that requires protection. Volume 2 of the Post-Contact
Cultural Heritage Study, 2007, identified a number of potentially significant individual
heritage places and precincts that are yet to be considered including:
•
Dry stone walls - A dry stone wall study to define those walls which should be protected
through the provisions of Clause 52.37 of the Brimbank Planning Scheme so that a
permit is required to demolish, remove or alter a dry stone wall constructed before 1940.
•
Railway houses on the west side of Station Place, c1950 (Sunshine)
•
Glengala subdivision - crescent pattern of streets, and large 1960s brick veneers in
Killara Street - 1960s-70s curvilinear subdivisions
•
Deer Park in particular trees, landscapes and gardens
•
Landscape elements and individual trees which reflect the Garden City movement
•
Suggestions from the community included 1970s Brick veneer homes (Sunshine West &
St Albans), Parson Reserve Silos, manse associated with Sunshine Presbyterian Church,
open space associated with Kevin Wheelahan Gardens, government houses (Sunshine
West), Andy’s Servo (corner of Anderson Road and Glengala Road Sunshine), old milk
bars.
Encourage property owners to prepare, Conservation Management Plans for the following
places:
•
Nobel’s Explosives, Ammunition and Leathercloth Factories, Deer Park
•
Mt. Derrimut Homestead and gardens
•
Overnewton Homestead
2. Ensuring that significant community consultation is undertaken and consider the value of pre
amendment consultation when considering the application of a Heritage Overlay. The risk of
consulting about the potential application of Heritage Overlay is some home owners may
choose to progress a planned demolition prior to planning controls being applied (interim or
permanent) which can degrade the value of a precinct.
3. Ensuring Council has an understanding of whether its assets are potentially significant and
pursue the appropriate protection under the Heritage Overlay. Further, in relation to Council
owned collections, objects or archives, upload onto HERMES.
4. Continuing to engage with community about the importance of identifying potential heritage
particularly with historical societies, but also more broadly.
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5.2. Protecting
Purpose:
The Strategy seeks to secure statutory protection, develop policy and guidelines and
appropriately manage Brimbank’s heritage assets. Once identified and assessed, assets can be
protected from unsympathetic alterations and demolition. Official recognition by inclusion on the
Heritage Overlay creates increased owner and community awareness and appreciation of local
heritage values. Proactive protection of heritage places allows greater certainty for property
owners and increased acceptance of the Heritage Overlay.
Key Considerations
1. The continued provision of the Heritage Advisory Service, at no cost to end users, is
considered an extremely important initiative to facilitate and support heritage property
owners through planned restoration and renovation. This initiative helps promote the
importance of heritage and streamline the planning permit process in relation to heritage.
2. Council is the owner of a range of heritage properties and continued education, information
and guidance to support the appreciation, restoration or reuse of heritage is important.
Council recently developed a management plan for the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens in
consultation with the Friends of H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens, and has an ongoing
commitment to its implementation. Further work could also include the development of
Guidelines for street and laneway paving, kerbs and street furniture for heritage precincts.
3. The undertaking of heritage gap studies and any resultant identification of heritage also
requires Council to pursue heritage protection through the preparation and exhibition of a
planning scheme amendment in relation to the application of the Heritage Overlay. This may
require consideration of other matters including an assessment of the current zone.
4. Brimbank has significant natural heritage in addition to the Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Council will need to review how it might recognise and protect its natural heritage through
implementation of its Brimbank Biodiversity Strategy 2012-2022 and the Aboriginal Cultural
Heritage Strategy 2018 – 2023.
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5.3. Supporting
Purpose:
The Strategy seeks to provide support to property owners and to increase their knowledge of
how to make changes to buildings and sustainable innovations that meet contemporary needs in
a sympathetic manner that doesn’t detract from their heritage significance.
Key Considerations
1. There is still a lack of general knowledge by property owners in Heritage Overlay areas
about what the planning provisions mean. There is an opportunity to conduct an annual
information session that includes a key note heritage speaker as well as information about
the Heritage Overlay, the Heritage Design Guidelines and the role of Council and the
Heritage Adviser.
2.
Property owners often find it difficult to access information about tradespeople who have
experience working on heritage buildings.
3.
There is some concern among community about the additional costs associated with the
restoration and or renovation of a heritage property. Council has previously provided a
Heritage Assistance Fund which gave small grants up to $3000 for the restoration and
maintenance of heritage properties however this was considered financially unsustainable
and was resource intensive. Council could investigate other cost reduction measures
including reduced planning application fees for places covered by the Heritage Overlay.
4.
The availability of State and Federal funding for restoration of heritage is limited and
generally only available for heritage of state and national significance, war memorials and
avenues of honour. Council continues to monitor funding availability particularly the Living
Heritage Grant Programme.
5.
The Heritage Advisory Committee is one way Council engages with its historical societies and
related heritage groups like Friends of H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens, about the retention,
protection and enhancement of Brimbank’s heritage. This group provides an important
sounding board in relation to the heritage work that Council undertakes in relation to land
use planning and development. The group is currently supported by Council’s Strategic
Planning Unit, who has the primary role of identifying and protecting heritage in the
Brimbank Planning Scheme. Business items often include presentations from other
Departments working on heritage projects. Stakeholders have indicated a desire to broaden
the focus to include a stronger focus on education and promotion of heritage, which is
beyond the focus and resources of Strategic Planning.
6.
Local Historical Societies and community groups also seek support from Council’s Strategic
Planning Unit in relations to funding applications, promotion and other matters. Council has
endorsed the Brimbank Local Historical Societies Support Policy which aims to guide Council
support for historical associations in the City. Feedback has been provided about the need
for a dedicated heritage officer to further support this work. This is a different role to the
Heritage Advisor, which provides ‘expert advice’ in relation to heritage, heritage
assessments and planning.
7.
The incorporation of environmentally sustainable design to meet contemporary building
expectations in a sympathetic manner that does not detract from their heritage significance
is an important issue. Council has funded a new Environmental Sustainable Design Officer
and there is opportunity to review Brimbank’s Heritage Design guidelines to include
information regarding sustainable building and design.
8.
As Council applies new Heritage Overlays, it could consider the development heritage design
guidelines specific to each precinct to assist property owners in undertaking restoration and
renovations.
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5.4. Communication and Promoting
Purpose:
Ensure that heritage information is available and is easily accessible to raise awareness and
appreciation of local heritage places, objects and landscapes.
Key Considerations
1. As Council moves to digital storage and online provision of information Brimbank Historical
Societies have highlighted that this creates issues for information that is not yet available in
this format. While it is important to ensure that Council’s heritage webpage remains up to
date with relevant links to other important sites, and Council continues to update the
photographs and listing of heritage sites on the HERMES data base, there is also important
work to ensure that the location of non-digital information is known and to examine
opportunities to digitise where appropriate.
2. Local Historical Societies have highlighted the need for greater support from Council in
relation to organising and promoting events and materials that celebrate the City’s heritage.
Council has developed the Festival and Events Policy and Strategy 2018-2021 to define
Brimbank City Council’s role and ways it will support a program of festival and events. It
articulates the resource commitments Council will make and how we will work with our local
community to ensure festivals and events are inclusive, best practice, sustainable and
flourishing. Council also has an annual Grants Program which provides financial support to
not-for-profit organisations and community groups to deliver projects, events and festivals
and provides an avenue for historical societies and other heritage groups to explore.
3. Council has also developed the Experience Brimbank Visitor Strategy 2018-2023 which
identifies the opportunity for the City to improve its image and visitor experience through
strategies that engage the community, build city pride and encourage local businesses to be
involved in activities that grow the visitor economy. The Experience Brimbank Visitor
Strategy recognised the importance of heritage and provides opportunity for owners and
managers of heritage places to participate in programs that may help develop the visitor
experience and promote to a wider audience.
4. Continue to seek opportunities to publish heritage stories and promote local heritage events
in the local paper and on Council’s website.
5. Council’s Urban Design Department has been involved in a number of public realm
improvements that celebrate heritage including the Hume and Hovell bluestone cairn in Deer
Park and the current work in Hampshire Road Sunshine that references the Sunshine
Harvester. The Urban Design Department are also involved in developing interpretative
signage for heritage. There is further opportunity to continue public realm improvements
that reference Brimbank’s heritage and appropriately interface with any surrounding
heritage.
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 21 of 26
6. Five Year Action Plan
All actions will be subject to resources being made available through Council’s annual capital
works and operational budget process.
The timeline for actions includes:
•
Short – to be completed within 2 years
•
Medium - to be completed within 2 - 4 years
•
Long – to be completed within 5 years
Some actions occur on an ongoing basis through the life of the Strategy.
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 22 of 26
6.1. Knowing
The Heritage Strategy seeks to identify, assess and document heritage places to ensure
that places of significance are not lost in the future. The Strategy helps identify and inform
the community about these places. Early identification provides greater transparency and
certainty for property owners planning development of their heritage place.
Actions
Responsibility
Timeline
Performance
Indicator
1 Program regular heritage gap
analyses to identify and assess
properties that may warrant
protection under the Heritage
Overlay.
Strategic Planning Ongoing
Completed gap
studies
2 Review the GIS system to map
places of potential heritage
significance.
Strategic Planning
and Asset Services
Short
Layers mapped in
Council's GIS
system and staff
notified.
3 Undertake a survey of Council
owned assets for potential
heritage significance and
conduct heritage study to verify.
Property and Asset
Services
Medium
Completed survey
and related
heritage study
4 Develop a register of Council
owned heritage collections,
objects or archives (e.g., honour
boards, statues) and publish on
Council’s website.
Property in
consultation with
Strategic Planning
Long
Completed
Register
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 23 of 26
6.2. Protecting
The Strategy seeks to secure statutory protection, develop policy and guidelines and
appropriately manage Brimbank’s heritage assets. Once identified and assessed, assets
can be protected from unsympathetic alterations and demolition. Official recognition by
inclusion on the Heritage Overlay creates increased owner and community awareness and
appreciation of local heritage values. Proactive protection of heritage places allows greater
certainty for property owners and increased acceptance of the Heritage Overlay.
Actions
Responsibility
Timeline Performance Indicator
1 Continue funding the
current Heritage Advisory
Service and undertake a
review and necessary
procurement
arrangements to inform
continuation of a service.
City Planning
Medium Renewal of contract and
Heritage Advice and
assistance being provided
2 Run a targeted bi annual
heritage workshop for
Council staff including
inviting suitable qualified
experts to facilitate
workshops where
necessary
Strategic Planning,
Council’s Heritage
Advisor
Ongoing Two workshops
3 Program the preparation
of planning scheme
amendments to add
more heritage sites to
the Heritage Overlay, if
identified in heritage gap
studies.
Strategic Planning Ongoing Additional sites included in
Heritage Overlay
4 Investigate if legislation
could be strengthened to
address ‘demolition by
neglect’.
Strategic Planning Long
Notice of Motion
5 Continue to implement
heritage management
plans for Council owned
assets including H.V.
McKay Memorial
Gardens.
City Operations
Ongoing Implementation report
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 24 of 26
6.3. Supporting
The Strategy seeks to provide support to property owners and to increase their knowledge
of how to make changes to buildings and sustainable innovations that meet contemporary
needs in a sympathetic manner that doesn’t detract from their heritage significance.
Actions
Responsibility
Timeline
Performance
Indicators
1 Delivery of an annual
community information
session targeting owners
and developers of heritage
properties.
Strategic Planning Ongoing
Number of people
attending sessions
2 Review and update the list
of heritage tradespeople as
required.
Strategic Planning Ongoing
List available on
Council’s website
3 Investigate the potential to
reduce planning
application fees charged
for places covered by the
Heritage Overlay.
Strategic Planning,
City Planning
Short
Internal
recommendation
4 Continue to monitor
heritage funding grants
and other financial
support.
Strategic Planning Ongoing
Support from
external funding
bodies
5 Review the role and
function of the Heritage
Advisory Committee
including its terms of
reference and greater
cross function
engagement.
Strategic Planning Short
Updated terms of
reference
6 Continue to advise Local
Historical Societies and
community groups about
funding opportunities.
Strategic Planning Ongoing
Grant applications
7 Program the review of the
Heritage Design Guidelines
and incorporate
sustainable building
design.
Strategic Planning Medium
Revised Heritage
Design Guidelines
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 25 of 26
6.4. Communicating and Promoting
Ensure that heritage information is available and already prepared in relation to Brimbank’s
heritage is easily accessible to and widely distributed in order to raise awareness and
appreciation of local heritage places, objects and landscapes.
Actions
Responsibility
Timeline
Performance
Indicator
1 Continue to update Heritage
pages on Council’s website
as a one stop shop and
promote through Council’s
media channels.
Strategic Planning,
Media and
Communications
Ongoing
Revised pages
Increasing number
of visits
2 Promote heritage tourism
opportunities to owners,
managers and heritage
organisations to participate
in Council’s business
development program and
Experience Brimbank Visitor
Strategy 2018 - 2023.
Economic
Development
Ongoing
Number of
organisations
participating in
program in relation
to heritage
Visits to tourism
websites in relation
to Brimbank
heritage
3 Prepare and publish positive
heritage stories through
appropriate communication
channels and local media.
Cross functional Ongoing
Number of
published articles
4 Continue to liaise with
historical societies and
community groups.
Cross functional Ongoing
Historical societies
and community
support and
enhance Council’s
heritage work
programme
5 Investigate the extent of
heritage information that is
not digitised and the type of
support that would be
required to facilitate this.
Cross functional
Medium
Report
6 Continue to investigate ways
to celebrate Brimbank’s
heritage through public art,
interpretative signage, and
public realm improvements.
Cross functional Ongoing
Number of heritage
projects
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 26 of 26
7. Strategy Review
The Strategy should be reviewed in five years to respond to changes in legislation and
Government policy, new information about post-contact heritage and the addition of new
places, objects and landscapes into the Brimbank Planning Scheme. The approach should
include:
•
An audit of the operation of the Strategy and assessment of the implementation of the
Actions
•
Evaluate and revise content, priorities and policy
•
Review heritage achievements
•
Respond to changes in legislation and policy frameworks
•
Consider new gap studies and new sites identified as historic significance
•
Review resourcing requirements.
Heritage Strategy 2018 - 2023
– Page 27 of 26
