Page 743 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994

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MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, LAND AND PLANNING

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 1219

Heritage Places Register

Mr Cornwell - asked the Minister for the Environment; Land and Planning

In relation to the ACT interim Heritage Places Register (Forrest Housing Precinct), how can the Minister reconcile requiring other property owners to adhere to specific requirements,*eg "Demolition of original houses not permitted and that the demolition of original housing fabric only be allowed in the context of sympathetic alterations and additions" when this requirement has already been breached in respect of 69 Empire Circuit (Block 19, Section 3) when still under heritage listing?

Mr Wood - the answer to the Members question is as follows:

The demolition of this property occurred in early 1989, well before the heritage provisions of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991 were introduced.

Between early December 1988 and March 1989, the matter was the subject of much correspondence between the then ACT Heritage Committee, the Australian Heritage Commission and government departments.

After strong reservations about the proposal which would substantially alter the nature of the original 1920s building, the development was modified, with the agreement of the lessee, to take into account the views of both heritage bodies. Lacking heritage legislation to support it, the Heritage Committee was only able to provide advice on these proposals.

This project provides a compelling argument for the implementation of heritage legislation and.the formation of a statutory body, the Heritage Council of the ACT, to advise me-on heritage issues.

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