Planning Policy

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Jane Partridge
Strategy Manager
Phone: 02 9242 4093
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Heritage

In NSW local government plays an important role in the conservation and management of heritage. Councils are at the forefront of the vital task of conserving the local heritage of NSW.

Most of the heritage items on statutory lists in NSW are managed by local councils. This includes more than 40,000 individual heritage items listed in Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) and thousands of contributory items located in conservation areas across NSW.

More information ABOUT HERITAGE PROTECTION

Heritage consists of places and objects inherited from the past that we as a community want to hand on to future generations.

NSW's heritage is diverse and includes buildings, objects, monuments, gardens, bridges, trees, landscapes, archaeological sites, Aboriginal places and cultural heritage, shipwrecks, relics, streets, industrial structures and conservation precincts.

There are different types of statutory listings for local, state and national heritage items.

A property is a heritage item if it is:

  • Listed in the heritage schedule of a local council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP);
  • Listed on the State Heritage Register, a register of places and items of particular importance to the people of NSW;
  • Listed on the National Heritage List established by the Australian Government to list places of outstanding heritage significance to Australia.

Councils in NSW are involved in the protection, management and conservation of heritage as both owners and as managers of the majority of heritage items and heritage conservation areas (HCAs). LEPs, HCAs and Development Control Plans (DCPs) are prepared by councils to protect heritage items. Heritage items are listed through a Heritage Schedule attached to the LEP.

Information on individual heritage listings are also available from the Inventory Sheets from the relevant council or through the State Heritage Inventory database administered by Heritage NSW. These sheets generally include a brief statement of the significance of the property, a description, photograph, and some include historic notes.

Further information, including details about the NSW Government's 2021 review of the NSW Heritage Act 1977 can be found on the Heritage NSW website

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