This Heritage Month, the Minns Labor Government has unveiled the first-ever NSW Heritage Strategy. It is a landmark plan to modernise the state heritage system, tell more diverse stories of NSW's history and make it easier for people to care for heritage items.
The inaugural Strategy delivers a five-year vision to build a heritage system that is inclusive, adaptable and better supports the people of NSW.
To simplify the system, heritage approvals will be streamlined to encourage activation, conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage, while supporting the Government's housing commitments.
Clearer compliance rules will be developed through a new fit-for-purpose Heritage Act that delivers real penalties to owners whose properties fall into disrepair.
To better tell the stories of NSW, more diverse items will be protected on the State Heritage Register. We will establish a new intangible heritage program and partner with Aboriginal communities to create truth-telling opportunities and better recognise significant heritage.
To help owners and custodians, we will also investigate models to generate long-term heritage funding that enable proactive management and build a more resilient, future-focused system. New tailored guidance and resources including on climate change preparedness will also be available.
The Strategy follows two years of conversations with a range of communities, implementing input from more than 1,750 people and organisations including the general public, academics, advocacy groups, councils, committees, planning and property consultants and other government agencies.
The Minns Labor Government has protected our heritage by gazetting four Aboriginal Places and recognising 32 stories through Blue Plaques. We've completed 40 repatriation projects with Aboriginal communities and advanced a further 51 projects. We've awarded $8.65 million in heritage grants to 140 grantees and listed dozens of items on the State Heritage Register, reflecting the rich history of NSW.
Heritage sites attract almost 15 million visitors to NSW each year, contributing to nearly $10 billion in visitor spending.
The Strategy can be found here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritagestrategy
Minister for Heritage, Penny Sharpe said:
"For the first time, NSW has a clear plan to celebrate the diversity of our history and pave a way for heritage to be part of the housing solution including greater activation and adaptive reuse.
"Bringing our heritage system up to date means we can recognise and protect our history in ways that speak to our current communities and reflect our many perspectives on the past.
"This Strategy is about making recognition of heritage fairer and faster, supported by modern legislation that protects our past and delivers firm compliance when properties are neglected."
