We've wrapped up Stage 1 of our Heritage Schedule Review, a project that involved updates to the list of current heritage items to reflect changes to property boundaries and descriptions.
The Heritage Schedule in the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 currently identifies 475 heritage items and nine Heritage Conservation Areas across the Wollongong LGA.
Stage 1 of the review involved minor amendments to the Heritage Schedule to provide accurate heritage information for customer enquiries, development applications, planning proposals and other administrative issues.
"For a number of years our staff have been reviewing and compiling information in relation to nearly 500 existing heritage items and sites across our local government area of 714 square kilometres," Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
"This work forms the basis of Stage 1 of the Heritage Schedule Review which is now complete. Stage 2 will begin next year and will involve a review of potential new listings."
From July to August 2020, the draft Planning Proposal for the Stage 1 Heritage Schedule Review was on public exhibition. During this time, Council received 27 submissions from the community.
Following Council's adoption of the Stage 1 Review, the draft Planning Proposal to update Schedule 5 of the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 that captures the changes will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for review and finalisation.
As part of the review, the State Heritage Inventory forms for existing heritage items have been updated with a more comprehensive assessment, photographs and various amendments. The State Heritage Inventory forms are accessible via the NSW Heritage Database website.
The Stage 1 Review contains a number of minor amendments to the Heritage Schedule including:
- fixing spelling mistakes to place names and addresses
- updating past administrative errors
- changing the level of significance of items from local to State to reflect the State listing of items under the NSW Heritage Act 1977
- removing seven heritage items that have since been demolished
- removing two items that are now covered by other heritage legislation
- adding Lot and Deposited Plan numbers to capture the full extent of an items curtilage due to shifting property boundaries or incorrect descriptions from 2009
- updating the Heritage Maps to address historical inaccuracies in mapping.
"Council has a role in the management and conservation of natural and cultural sites across Wollongong. This project seeks to provide accurate information to owners, community members and developers so that we can work together to protect our community's history," said Cr Bradbery.
"Now that Stage 1 of the review is finished, we'll be able to progress with Stage 2 which will consider new items to be added to the schedule. This will be an even bigger project and will involve significant consultation with owners and community members."
