Managing Your Heritage Property
Some of the questions most commonly asked by owners of heritage places are, “What changes can I make to my property and do I need permission? What guidelines are available for me to follow and what sort of assistance is available to me?”
A common misconception is that heritage places can only be kept as ‘mini-museums', to be looked at but not used. This is not the case. In many instances the adaptive re-use of heritage places can be incorporated into development plans. Currently in the NT there are declared heritage places being used for residential purposes, as museums, as research and teaching sites, childcare centres, for tourism purposes, cafes and theatres.
What Changes May I Make to My Property, and Do I Need Permission?
Generally changes are permitted as long as they do not damage, desecrate or irreversibly alter the fabric of a place. In order to make changes to a heritage place, consent from the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage under the Heritage Conservation Act 1991 is required. An application for permission to undertake works on a heritage property can be made through a Section 39(J) form. Consent is often given in order to permit routine repair and maintenance on declared heritage places. You can download the Section 39(J) form here.
In the long term it may be more appropriate, and convenient to develop a Heritage Agreement or a Conservation Management Plan to provide for the long term protection of a place.
Under a Heritage Agreement, an agreement is reached between the registered owner and the NT Government concerning the protection of the place or object. The Heritage Agreement describes the existing state of the fabric and sets out what changes may be routinely made, and if appropriate, what further repairs and maintenance work should be done to ensure the conservation of the place.
Conservation Management Plans contain a description of the place and the work which may be carried out and under what conditions. The public is invited to comment on the plan before it is laid before Legislative Assembly.
Are There Guidelines?
There are conservation guidelines which recommend ways to plan and conduct the work. Wherever possible the principles below should be followed:
- do as much as is necessary but as little as possible (this is usually cheaper too!),
- the building fabric should be repaired rather than replaced,
- any significant elements should be retained and conserved,
- alterations should be non-permanent,
- adaptation work should be done within the extant building fabric, and
- conservation professionals familiar with the Burra Charter (which defines the principles and procedures that should be followed in conservation) should be involved in the project.
What Sort of Assistance is Available to Me?
A range of incentives have recently been provided in order to encourage the protection and conservation of heritage places. These incentives include funding opportunities, rate relief and free advice from conservation specialists.
Funding
The Northern Territory Heritage Grants Program is funded by the Territory Government and is available for the conservation of significant places having aesthetic, scientific, or social significance to the present community and for future generations. Owners of declared heritage properties are eligible to apply for restoration grants for approved restoration work to be undertaken. Applications for funding under this program may be made by completing the relevant application form available from Heritage Conservation Services. The closing date for applications for funding under the NTHGP usually close during March-April each year.
Rate Relief
Municipal rate relief arrangements are available for owners of declared heritage places. As part of the Government's incentive package, 75% of rates paid for residential places is reimbursed, and 25% of rates paid for commercial premises.
Provision of Specialist Advice
The government's incentive package provides free expert and specialist services to owners of declared heritage places on heritage conservation issues. Such issues may relate to grounds maintenance and landscaping, building maintenance, restoration, and renovation. To obtain this advice contact Heritage Conservation Services at the address below.
Further Information
For further information regarding funding, rates, conservation guidelines or provision of specialist advice contact Heritage Branch on (08) 8999 5039, or see us on Level 1, 9 - 11 Cavenagh Street, Darwin.
