Minister for Heritage Chris Steel has released a statement of heritage priorities, setting out a clear vision to protect Canberra's unique cultural heritage while supporting housing, infrastructure and sustainability goals.
"The priorities align heritage conservation with broader planning objectives to create a city that respects our past while planning for our future," Minister Steel said.
"Heritage protection and planning reform must work hand in hand. By considering both elements together, we can build a sustainable, culturally rich Canberra that celebrates our history while meeting the needs of our growing city.
These priorities will help inform the work of the ACT Heritage Council, the independent body responsible for recognising, protecting, and celebrating heritage in the ACT.
"By embracing adaptive reuse, aligning heritage protection with planning frameworks, and embedding sustainability, we can protect what matters most while shaping a vibrant future for Canberra," said Minister Steel.
The ACT Government is committed to enabling 30,000 new homes by 2030, and heritage decision-making must actively support this ambition.
The Council is already streamlining its processes and decision making to deliver greater efficiency and certainty for property owners, developers, and heritage stakeholders.
"Increasing housing supply requires coordinated efforts across Government. Our heritage system needs to play an active role in protecting what's important, while enabling sustainable growth," he said.
For the first time, the Heritage Council will be asked to consider how it can preserve important examples of mid-century modern homes.
"Canberra holds some of the nation's finest examples of mid-century modern architecture. These unique designs form a vital part of our city's cultural and planning legacy," Minister Steel said.
"As our city continues to grow and development takes place, it is imperative that we act now to identify and protect examples from this architectural period. These homes are worth preserving."
The Minister's Statement of Heritage Priorities outlines 9 key areas:
- Considering ACT Government housing priorities in heritage decision-making
- Contributing to the Construction Productivity Agenda
- Participating in the Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework
- Preserving important examples of mid-century modern homes
- Strengthening the role of First Nations people as Traditional Custodians
- Embedding climate change and sustainability in heritage decisions
- Supporting heritage system reform and improved data quality
- Aligning with ACT Government policies and legislation
- Maintaining strong governance, conduct and reporting
These priorities will guide the ACT Heritage Council's work to modernise heritage governance, streamline processes and enhance collaboration with stakeholders, including Traditional Custodians, to protect and celebrate Canberra's unique cultural legacy.
To read the full statement of heritage priorities, visit www.act.gov.au/open/act-minister-for-heritage-statement-of-heritage-priorities.
