Annual Report 2013–14

Annual Report 2013–14 1 F ront Cov er: © The Huddersfield, date unknown (Lady Denman Maritime Museum) Heritage Council GP O B ox 419 8 Darwin NT 0801 Tel: 08 8999 5039 Email: heritagecouncil@nt.gov.au ISSN: 2202–8226 2 Table of Contents ........................................................................ Message from the Chairperson 1 Highlights 2 Th e Heritage Act and the role of Council 3 Council Members 4 Meetings 6 Assessment and Declaration 6 Work Approvals 10 Conservation and Management 11 Policy and Strategy 13 Appendix 14 HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 Message from the Chairperson ............................................................................................ I have great pleasure in presenting the second Annual Report of the Heritage Council. 2013–14 was the first full year of the operation of the Heritage Act, which commenced in October 2012. There have undoubtedly been some teething problems, but on balance the new Act is working well. When a place is nominated for heritage listing, the new Act requires decisions to be made in a timely fashion. The Council has been meeting these requirements, and this is a good outcome for all stakeholders. There are seven new heritage places and three new heritage objects on the NT Heritage Register. The new system for work approvals is also working well. The majority of decisions in relation to proposed work to heritage places are now taken by the Heritage Council instead of the Minister, and strict new timelines on making decisions about proposed work are being observed. The Council has also been involved at a more strategic level in matters of heritage management, providing input into several proposals affecting the Darwin CBD. I was particularly gratified that after many years there seems to be an appropriate proposal for the redevelopment of ‘Goyder’s Camp’. This site below Government House is in many ways the birthplace of modern Darwin, and it is very important that it is treated with respect. In April 2014, I attended the annual meeting of the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand, held in Hobart. A key item on the agenda was the draft Australian Heritage Strategy. There was a consensus amongst the attendees that there was room for improvement in the draft Strategy. A number of constructive suggestions were made, and I am hopeful that the Commonwealth will take these on board. There was also renewed interest at the national level in Indigenous heritage. This is welcome news to the Council, as the Territory is very rich in Indigenous heritage sites. It is hoped this will also include the many significant Macassan sites, most of which are in the Northern Territory and most of which are threatened by the consequences of climate change. The Council was pleased to be able to visit Alice Springs in September 2013. I think it is vital for the Council to be seen to be taking an interest in heritage management issues in the Central Region, and I look forward to regular visits to Alice Springs in the future. DR BRIAN REID HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 1 Highlights ........................................................................ • Council assessed eleven places nominated to the NT Heritage Register. • Ten places or objects were gazetted as heritage places. • A total of 18 projects were funded to a value of $259 350 und er th e NT Heritage Grants Program. NF5 Locomotive, Pine Creek 2 HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 The Heritage Act and the role of Council ........................................................................ The object of the Heritage Act is to provide for the conservation of the Northern Territory’s cultural and natural heritage. Th e Act is broad in its scope. It automatically protects all Aboriginal and Macassan archaeological places and objects, and has the capacity to automatically protect other classes of places. Th e Heritage Act commenced on 1 October 2012. The functions of the Heritage Council are set out in Section 125 of th e Act, and are: (a) to assess the heritage significance of places and objects; (b) to recommend to the Minister the declaration of places and objects to be heritage places and objects; (c) to recommend to the Minister the revocation of the declaration for heritage places and objects; (d) to advise the Minister on the conservation, use and management of heritage places and objects; (e) to advise the Minister about the carrying out of work on a heritage place or object and to decide applications for work approvals other than applications for major work; (f) to promote, as it considers appropriate, the public use and enjoyment of heritage places and objects in a way that is consistent with the conservation of the heritage significance of the places and objects; (g) to facilitate public education and programs about the Territory’s cultural and natural heritage; (h) to advise the Minister on financial incentives or concessions for heritage agreements (either in general or on particular agreements); (i) to advise the Minister on matters affecting the Territory’s cultural and natural heritage; (j) to perform other functions conferred under this or another Act or as directed by the Minister. HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 3 Council Members ........................................................................ Th e Heritage Act provides for a Council of eleven members. One is the nominee of the Chief Executive of the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment; the others are appointed by the Minister. There are nominees from four organisations. Dr Brian Reid - Chairperson Dr Reid has qualifications in both medicine and history. He is a member of the Professional Historians’ Association, and former President of the Historical Society of the Northern Territory. He has been Chairperson of the Council since the commencement of the Heritage Act in October 2012. Dr Mickey Dewar Dr Dewar is a freelance consultant with nearly 30 years experience working in Northern Territory history. She has won awards for her writing including publications on Territory literature, heritage, museums and social history. Mickey was Deputy Chairperson of the Council until her retirement in May 2014. Ms Elizabeth Close Elizabeth is the Director of the National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory), and is the National Trust’s nominee on the Heritage Council. With a background in history, education and museums, she holds a Masters degree in Cultural Heritage, and is a professional member of ICOMOS. She was elected Deputy Chairperson of the Council in June 2014. Mr Peter Madden Peter is a Researcher/Anthropologist at the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority in Alice Springs, and is AAPA’s nominee on the Heritage Council. Before joining AAPA, Peter worked for some years in the fields of Native Title and archaeological cultural heritage management. Mr Allan Garraway Allan has a background in accounting and commerce, and is the nominee of the Property Council of Australia (Northern Territory). He has a particular interest in appropriate development in the Darwin CBD. Mr Steven Hennessy Steven is the nominee of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. Steven has been in Timber Creek since 2005, and is currently Mayor of the Victoria Daly Shire. He has taken a keen interest in the conservation of the Timber Creek Police Museum. 4 HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 Mr David Curtis David is from Tennant Creek. He has held many posts in the community and local government and was an ATSIC Regional Councillor for 13 years. He has an interest in early European settlement in Central Australia. Dr Samantha Wells Dr Wells is a freelance historical consultant with over 20 years experience in various aspects of Northern Territory history including colonial race relations, Aboriginal land rights and native title. Mr Michael Owen Michael has worked throughout the Territory and Northern Australia in Health, Aboriginal Affairs & Local Government. Today, he is a Darwin- based heritage consultant, specialising in community engagement and heritage economics. Mr Richard Luxton Richard is a retired builder and farmer. He is a member and past president of the Aviation Historical Society, and a member of the Development Consent Authority. He owns the World War II Coomalie Creek Airstrip, and has a keen interest in preserving the Top End’s World War II heritage. Mr Wayne Kraft Wayne is the nominee of the Chief Executive. He lives in Alice Springs and is the owner of the Overlanders Steakhouse. A resident of the NT for over 40 years, he has also lived and worked in Tennant Creek, Darwin and Barrow Creek. He is a past Board Member (and Chairman) of the Board of the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT. Charlie Rye’s House, Alice Springs HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 HERITAGE COUNCIL NORTHERN TERRITORY - Annual Report 2013–14 5 Meetings ........................................................................ Council is required under the terms of the Heritage Act to meet at least four times per year. In 2013–14 Council met four times, as follows: • 6 September 2013; • 6 December 2013; • 7 March 2014; and • 6 June 2014. The September meeting was held in Alice Springs; all others were held in Darwin. Assessment and Declaration ........................................................................ Nominations

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