Download - Heritage Impact Assessment - Planning
Heritage Impact Assessment Planning Institute of Australia For Planners Seminar Series 3 June 2014
Ivan McDonald Ivan McDonald Architects
Outline
• The statutory regime
• Heritage impact assessment methodology
• Relevant assessment codes
• The structure of a heritage impact report
• Who is “qualified” to do the work?
• How to brief a consultant
• What to look for in a completed report
The cultural environment
• Historic cultural environment
• Natural cultural environment
• Indigenous cultural environment
Historic cultural environment
• Typically urban built environment
• Can include buildings, parks, open spaces, bridges, railways, jetties, etc.
• Can include physical fabric and physical settings
Heritage impact assessment is not to be confused with
• Character assessment
• Cultural heritage significance assessment
• Conservation management planning
The broad statutory regime
• Various statutes at all levels of governments
• EPBC Act
• Queensland Heritage Act - State heritage places
- Local heritage places
• Planning schemes
• Burra Charter not a statutory document
When is heritage impact assessment required?
• Mandatory information for State heritage places
• Required in some planning schemes - Brisbane and most provincial cities
• Development adjoining a State heritage place is no longer assessable development
Suggested triggers for heritage impact assessment
• No statement of significance
• Demolition of significant elements
• Change of use
• Substantial intervention in significant fabric
• Substantial change in setting
Methodology
Heritage impact assessment is fundamentally about assessing the impact of proposed development on the cultural significance of a heritage place.
• Not an advocacy report
• An assessment report
• Not an assessment of significance - Assess a place against criteria
- Applies thresholds
- Produces a statement of significance
- Does not deal with management issues
Methodology
• Not a conservation management plan - Assesses significance
- Sets policies to conserve that significance
- Can set policy for potential development
- Can immeasurably inform the heritage impact assessment process
Methodology
• A heritage impact report considers - The significance of the place
- The proposed development
- The likely impact of that development on the place’s significance
Methodology
• Development can impact in 3 principal ways - Use (should be compatible)
- Fabric (consider significant fabric, especially demolition)
- Setting
Methodology
• Consider stakeholder input - Often overlooked
- Burra Charter encourages participation
- Impact assessment provides some input
Methodology
• Adverse impacts - Should be identified
- Options considered
- Ways to mitigate impacts identified
- Early identification can avert
Methodology
Relevant assessment codes
• Queensland Heritage Place State Code
• IDAS Code for Development on a Local Heritage Place - Except for 12 local governments
• Planning scheme codes - BCC Heritage Place Code, etc.
Structure of a heritage impact report
• One report model does not fit all
• Single page to full report
• Usual components - Existing conditions
- What is significant
- Proposed development
- Impact of development on significance
- Conclusive statement of impact
Impacts to be considered
• Impact of use
• Impact on significant fabric
• Impact on setting
• Impact on statement of significance
Consider
• Ways to mitigate adverse impacts - Prior to impact assessment
- In report
• Whether further information is required
• Need for approval conditions - Vibration monitoring
- Interpretation
- Recording/storage
Guidelines
• DEHP Preparing a Heritage Impact Statement
• Planning schemes - BBC City Plan SC6.12 Heritage Planning Scheme Policy
• Allow for discretion and negotiation
Whose assessment of significance?
• The heritage regulator’s – yes
• A non-statutory assessment – maybe
• At regulator’s discretion
Who is “qualified” to do the work?
• A “suitably qualified person”
• Wide range of heritage specialists
• Specialist not always required if all parties agree
• ICOMOS member as yardstick
• DEHP and BCC keep a consultant list
How to brief a consultant
• Consider getting early advice
• Is there already an assessment of significance?
• Is there already a cmp?
• If not, commission early
• Which codes to address
• Don’t hide issues
What to look for in a completed HIR
• A conclusive statement of heritage impact
• There is range of possible impact extents - None (rare)
- Some (usually acceptable if minor, could be cumulative minor impacts)
- Substantial (not likely to be acceptable unless no prudent or feasible alternative)
• Like any report - Concise but thorough
- Rational, reasonable and objective
- Conclusive
The report should
• Demonstrate an understanding of the place’s significance
• Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and extent of the proposed development
• Make a balanced and unbiased assessment of impact
• Consider ways to mitigate adverse impacts
• Recommend appropriate approval conditions
Beware of
• Heavy description/light analysis
• The “gun for hire” who blindly supports
• The “amateur”
The report should also
• Address all heritage aspects of the development
• Recognise that the town planner’s agenda and the heritage regulator’s agenda may be quite different
• Not be expected to expunge every negative comment
• Be prepared with independence and professionalism