THE IMPACT OF CLASSIFICATION
The Trust’s Register is intended to perform an advisory and educational role. The listing of a place in the Register, known as ‘classification’ has no legal force however it is widely recognised as an authoritative statement of the cultural significance of a place.
Most places listed in the Register are in private ownership. Listing does not imply a right of access by the public, nor that the owner should open the property for public inspection. Regrettably, as a community conservation organisation, the Trust has no funds available to contribute directly towards the repair of maintenance of buildings listed in the Register.
Does the National Trust have any control over the development or demolition of the classified places or items?
No. As stated earlier, the listing of a place in the Trust’s Register has no legal force. However, the Trust does encourage owners of listed places to respect their heritage significance.
How is an item classified?
The process of classification involves the identification and assessment of a place using criteria to indicate its cultural significance – its historic, aesthetic, social and scientific value of past, present and future generations.
This assessment is carried out by a number of expert committees who advise the Trust on items to be placed on the Register. These committees are made up of individuals with professional qualifications, such as architects, historians, archaeologists, planners, botanists, lawyers, educationalists and landscape architects, who all give their time freely to the Trust.
It is possible to purchase a plaque or certificate from the Trust for your property stating that it is Classified.
Can I alter a classified building or property?
Classification need not unduly restrict renovations and alterations to Classified places and there are many examples of sympathetic renovation.
The main aim of the Trust is to ensure that all alterations are made in sympathy with the original materials and the original style and that changes do not negate or detract from the heritage value of the property. Unsympathetic changes can adversely affect the market value of a heritage building.
WHO HAS LEGAL POWERS TO PROTECT HERITAGE PLACES?
Local Government Authorities
Most powers of control are vested in local councils, which consider various criteria when they determine building and development applications. Councils adopt Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) and Development Control Plans (DCPs), which usually contain a schedule of properties of identified heritage significance.
The inclusion of a property on such a schedule can impose certain restrictions. For further details, check with your local council.
The Heritage Council of New South Wales
The Heritage Council is the State Government Authority which administers the NSW Heritage Act. It advises the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning in relation to the placing of Heritage Orders on sites of heritage significance.
If a place is subject to a heritage order, it is illegal to demolish or damage it without making an application to the Heritage Council.
The State Heritage Register contains items and places of State Heritage significance which are protected under the provisions of the NSW Heritage Act.
Full details can be obtained from the Heritage Office (Department of Planning) , tel: (02) 9635 6155.
What is the relationship of the National Trust to local councils, the NSW Heritage Council and the Australian Heritage Council?
The Trust often helps local councils in the preparation of Local Environmental Plans. The Trust encourages local councils to refer development applications affecting properties listed on the Trust’s Architectural Advisory Committee.
The Trust nominates a member of the NSW Heritage Council and often refers details of properties under threat to the Heritage Council.
The Trust forwards information on all places in its Register to the Australian Heritage Council for consideration of listing on the Register of the National Estate.
The State Heritage Register contains items and places of State Heritage significance which are protected under the provisions of the NSW Heritage Office, tel: (02) 9635 6155.
What is an Urban Conservation Area?
The Trust has listed on its Register many areas in cities and country towns as Urban Conservation Areas. These areas have an overall townscape, architectural or historic character which, in the Trust’s view, should be conserved even though not every individual building in the area is significant. The Trust requests owners, developers and local councils to ensure that any new development within an Urban Conservation Area is designed to be in harmony with the heritage significance of the Area. Once again, listing by the Trust has no legal force.
