REFORMS TO PROTECT RYDE'S HERITAGE NOW ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Community consultation has now commenced on wide -ranging planning reforms designed to provide stronger protections for items and areas of heritage significance across the City of Ryde.
The reforms are proposed by Council in direct response to concerns raised by the community and detailed in the Community Strategic Plan for more to be done to protect the City of Ryde's heritage and character.
In addition, the proposed controls are designed to provide greater certainty to propert y owners and prospective buyers.
Under the reforms, 44 new heritage items will be created in the City of Ryde. This includes;
Thirty properties including comprising Federation cottages, Inter -war bungalows and Victorian Georgian villas Seven public parks and a reservoir Three street tree boulevards Two shops One licensed hotel One public school
Six new heritage conservation areas will also be created, while the former Squire's Brewery and Halverson's Boat Yard in Putney and the Glades Bay Baths in Gladesville will also be listed as archaeological sites.
The reforms are based on the findi ngs of a comprehensive heritage review c ommissioned by the City of Ryde.
Heritage items are provided with protections guarding them from inappropriate development as new works are required to be sympathetic to the character and style of the heritage item and/or the heritage conservation area.
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, encouraged all residents to take part in the community consultation.
"Heritage items, whether they are homes, shops, schools, parks or even entire streets, enrich our City and contribute to the community's sense of place," Clr Laxale said.
"We know through our engagement with the community that heritage is of vital importance to the majority of residents many of whom have expressed concerns about the recent increase in deve lopment proposals that involved the demolition of buildings with heritage value.
"Conversely, there have also been concerns raised that property owners have no certa inty under current planning controls.
"The proposed planning reforms address these concerns and that is why it is so important that everyone takes part in the consultation that has just commenced."
As part of the consultation, the City of Ryde will be conducting six drop -in sessions as well as an information ses sion on the reforms.
Written submissions can also be made.
