Heritage Information
Leichhardt Council is committed to heritage conservation as an important planning principle. This commitment is exemplified by the inclusion of objectives and controls, relating to heritage conservation, within the current Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan, the main legal planning instrument which guides development in the area. These objectives aim to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage (including Aboriginal cultural significance) of the Leichhardt Local Government Area (LGA) which include: places; buildings; works; relics; landscapes; trees; potential archaeological sites; and conservation areas.
Leichhardt Council is interested in heritage conservation as a planning principle because heritage places are:
- A link with the past, which assist both current and future generations in understanding the lives, history and culture of previous generations;
- Part of the Leichhardt LGA’s unique identity which bring economic (i.e. tourism) and other benefits to the area;
- Worthy of protection on historical, scientific, cultural, social, archaeological, architectural, natural or aesthetic grounds and therefore they should be handed down to future generations; and
- Legally required to be protected under relevant planning, indigenous sites or endangered species legislation.*
* In relation to Leichhardt Council’s legal obligations to heritage conservation, the New South Wales State Government requires all local government authorities when preparing a draft Local Environmental Plan for their area, to include provisions which facilitate the conservation of any relevant items of heritage significance (including those of Aboriginal heritage significance).
Leichhardt Council manages places of heritage significance which are located on both public and privately owned land by undertaking two distinct activities:
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The assessment by Council’s Consultant part-time Heritage Advisor (who forms part of Council’s Development Assessment staff) of the heritage impact of Development Applications etc. which propose to alter places; buildings; works; relics; landscapes; trees; potential archaeological sites; and conservation areas of heritage significance; and
- The development of Local Environmental Plans and Development Control Plans by Council’s part-time Heritage Planner (who forms part of Council’s Environment and Urban Planning staff) that include appropriate controls for the protection and enhancement of Leichhardt LGA’s heritage.**
Note: Other principal duties undertaken by Council’s Heritage Planner include: heritage promotion and education; the management of heritage studies; and the management of heritage information to the public.