An Interim Heritage Order, under the NSW Heritage Act 1977, was placed on Lugarno's 'Glenlee' property today, following Mayor Kevin Greene's call to action to the Council to protect the property.
Georges River Council Mayor Kevin Greene said, "This is a great victory for our community and the heritage of Georges River."
The Interim Heritage Order (IHO) is a temporary measure to prevent harm to the heritage of 80 Boronia Parade, Lugarno and was gazetted today.
A Development Application was submitted to Council on 6 May 2021 for the demolition of the existing cottage and buildings, the subdivision of the lot into 31 lots and the construction of new roads, drainage, and tree removal. While the Local Planning Panel is the consent authority, the applicant has appealed to the Land and Environment Court and as a result the application is currently subject to the Court's appeal process.
Known locally as 'Glenlee', the site is not presently identified as a local item of heritage significance in the Hurstville Council Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2012. However, Council will undertake work to assess the heritage significance of the site and if it is found that some, or all, of the site has heritage significance, Council can seek to amend the LEP and list the site as a heritage item.
Mayor Greene reiterated his strong view that 'Glenlee' has potential heritage significance and said, "preliminary investigations indicate there has been little change to the site since the 1940s.
"The site has boat sheds and wharfs which, like the house and landscape, appear to be relatively undisturbed and reflect the early 20th century way of life in our locality.
"Glenlee, with its waterfront and natural landscape, has high potential for Aboriginal cultural heritage."
The site is classified by National Trust NSW as an item of high cultural heritage significance and value, within the 'Lugarno Early Settlers Local Heritage Precinct'.
Georges River Council was permitted to place an IHO on 'Glenlee', under the Heritage Act 1977 which allows councils to do so, after being authorised by the Minister, if a council has reasonable belief that the place or item may have potential heritage significance, and that a 'threat of harm' either exists or is perceived to exist.
