Australian Heritage Council
The Australian Heritage Council provides expert advice on heritage management plans and strategies. These are made under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). It provides advice to:
- The Minister for the Environment and Water, about management plans for National Heritage places and Commonwealth Heritage places
- Australian Government agencies about heritage strategies for Commonwealth Heritage places.
Management plans
The EPBC Act sets out requirements for the development, amendment or revocation of heritage management plans. Places can be listed for their Indigenous, historic or natural heritage values. Management plans use policies and strategies to manage and protect these values.
It’s best practice for all heritage places to have a management plan. Management plans for National and Commonwealth Heritage places that are in Commonwealth areas must be developed once a place is listed. Plans must be reviewed and updated every 5 years.
The department also works with non-Commonwealth place managers to make sure their management plans are consistent with the National Heritage management principles.
You can apply for funding to develop heritage management plans for National Heritage listed places.
Find out more about Australian Heritage Grants.
Heritage strategies for Australian Government agencies
Australian Government agencies that own or control Commonwealth Heritage places must prepare a written heritage strategy. An agency has 2 years from the time it first owns or controls a place to develop a strategy and provide it to the Minister. This is required under the EPBC Act.
A strategy puts heritage conservation and management within an agency’s property planning and management framework. The size and inclusions of the strategy will reflect their property holdings and management responsibilities.
Agencies must consult with the Australian Heritage Council on the development of a strategy and take Council’s advice.
The department can provide advice to assist agencies to meet their heritage obligations.
Heritage reports
The National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List are evaluated every 5 years. Reports are created for each review and includes a list of heritage management plans and strategies.
Read more in Heritage publications.
Contact
Contact us for advice and guidance on preparing heritage management plans and strategies.
Email: heritage@dcceew.gov.au