SAM NORRIS
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Landmarks such as the Indian Root Pill shed could be spared from demolition under new council powers, even if they are not heritage listed.
The iconic East Maitland building is an example of what interim heritage orders could save if its owner wanted the shed gone in the future.
Recent changes to the heritage act mean Maitland City Council could issue an interim heritage order while a thorough assessment was carried out.
If the subject of the order was found to have heritage merit, it could then be listed as such under the Maitland local environment plan.
Heritage campaigner Chris Richards said the delegated power had some merit, but urged the state government to properly resource councils for the duty.
“In a lot of cases you technically don’t need approval to pull down an old barn or pull off some old guttering,” he said.
“[But] it’s not just passing the batten to the next jockey, it’s about council being suitably qualified to make important decisions quickly.”
The power to implement an interim heritage order used to be the sole responsibility of the Office of Environment and Heritage, but a review of the Heritage Act 1977 in September has empowered councils.
Within six months of imposing such an order councils are required to either list the property under its local environment plan or lift the order.
These amendments allow time to undertake studies of potential heritage places, so that they are able to make more informed decisions on heritage matters.
Maitland City Council declined to comment on the significance of the new powers or how they could be invoked at this time.
“Council staff are currently looking at developing a framework for the management of interim heritage orders, which will be presented to council by the end of the year,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Until that time it is not possible to be specific about how, when or why these might be invoked.”
Mr Richards said not all demolition required council permission and stressed the importance of having an officer on call to respond to such cases.
“Heritage is a very sensitive and controversial area,” he said. “That officer has to be able to make a decision quickly and under pressure from a person or utility company that wants to pull something down.”
Mr Richards came to Maitland in the 1980s with the National Trust and had the South Maitland Railway main line and infrastructure heritage listed.
He has saved about 30 homes across Maitland with renovations and is a self-confirmed council antagonist.
“I don’t have any qualms about attacking council and they attack me in turn but we have managed to save a lot of heritage,” he said.
Mr Richards has also led the battle to reuse the heritage-style lamps around Maitland when the Heritage Mall is gutted for renovations.