Heritage is in crisis within the Maitland Local Government Area (LGA) and the city's councillors and appropriate council staff need a crash course on heritage conservation.
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That's the opinion of Maitland Heritage Guardians founder Chris Richards who was appalled by a recent council decision to demolish an historic slab cottage in Morpeth.
Mr Richards left last Tuesday night's council meeting disturbed after learning council's heritage officer expressed an opinion on the cottage, but was ignored.
Council's heritage officer reviewed the application and in summary said; given its potential rarity and recognition that the cottage is a strong contributor to the rich collection of buildings within the township, recommended that the existing building should be retained, repaired and incorporated into the redevelopment of the site.
"Cr Peter Garnham who spoke at the meeting touched on the heavy financial burdens placed on the owner to produce handmade nails etc that would be needed to restore this building," Mr Richards said. He also said that if my supporters and I were serious about heritage we would approach people with rundown buildings and ask the owners to fix them. This shows how little understanding councillors have of heritage conservation," Mr Richards said.
"Council's planning department recommended the building for demolition but councillors chose to ignore the heritage officer and go with building staff. If you use the principles applied by the building staff and councillors, our heritage is doomed."
Council's Group Manager Planning and Environment Matt Prendergast said council values heritage as an essential part of the character and history of the LGA. "Staff have a range of heritage responsibilities including the identification of heritage items and conservation areas, acting as an approval body for the development of heritage places, administering planning laws relating to development of heritage items and maintaining and managing heritage items as owner," he said.
"Council has recently secured grant funding to undertake a heritage study of rural lands, and that will complement the existing work that council has already completed in this field. Council values the quality and experience of our heritage places and precincts and recognises that the ongoing use and celebration of heritage is a key strategy for our city," Mr Pendergast said.
