This second edition of the Tasmanian Heritage Council’s Works Guidelines for Historic Heritage Places (the guidelines) reflects most of the content from the 2015 edition but has a broader range of included works and incorporates new content in response to recent legislative amendments.
The primary aim of the guidelines is to assist property owners, site managers, developers and consultants to achieve the best possible outcomes when changes to a place that is entered in the Tasmanian Heritage Register are proposed. The guidelines clarify the Heritage Council’s expectations for a wide range of proposals. Proper regard for the guidelines will help the Heritage Council’s determination of an application to undertake works at a registered place.
Protection of registered places, and the characteristics that make them significant, is a primary purpose of the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995. The guidelines offer practical direction on how to manage change in a way that minimises impact on places’ historic cultural heritage significance i.e. heritage values.
These guidelines do not displace the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter, 2013 (the Burra Charter) in describing how the conservation of heritage places should be undertaken, but they are a practical working out, and local application of, thinking embodied in the charter.
Places will evolve over time, responding to changes in their use, social and economic environment, developing technologies, and climate change.
The Heritage Council acknowledges that adaptation to enable an existing historic use to continue is sometimes an important way to preserve a place’s heritage values. Similarly, it accepts that adaptive re-use may at times be necessary when there is no longer prospect for maintaining the historic use of a place. In those situations, it is important not to lose the fabric that can tell us something of the place’s historic functions and associations, giving tangible expression to what may otherwise only be captured through writing, photographs, sound recordings or other media.
By taking care of our heritage places, maintaining their authenticity and avoiding changes that erode their integrity or
undermine their heritage values, they will continue to connect current and future generations to Tasmania’s past. Providing these valued connections is one of the ways in which heritage places offer lasting social and economic benefits.
In addition to the guidelines, assistance is also available from Heritage Tasmania’s website and, where needed, the expertise of their heritage advisory team. It is advisable to contact Heritage Tasmania for informal advice before lodging an application.
Important information
These Works Guidelines have a legislative foundation. They are issued by the Heritage Council under the provision of section 90A of the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 (the Act). The Works Guidelines are the standard measure of acceptability for works that need heritage approval. The Heritage Council applies these guidelines when assessing an application for a minor works approval or a discretionary permit application.
Under Part 6 of the Act, a person must not carry out any ‘works’ to a place entered on the Tasmanian Heritage Register (‘heritage works’) unless those heritage works are approved by the Heritage Council. Approval may be in the form of a minor works approval or a discretionary permit.
The tables in the guidelines describe the types of work that will be eligible for minor works approval and the types of work that will require a discretionary permit. In relation to the latter, the tables offer advice about what the Heritage Council considers appropriate outcomes to be.
A proposal that appears to conform with the eligibility description or advice about appropriate outcomes must still be submitted as an application for the Heritage Council to determine. Some proposals may also need permits other than a heritage approval provided by the Heritage Council. For example, approval under the State Planning Provisions for a change of use, for building work or for plumbing works.
It is recommended that appropriately qualified and experienced persons are used for planning and implementing works at heritage places. Heritage Tasmania’s website contains a list of suppliers, contractors and consultants who have expressed interest in offering heritage services. Heritage Tasmania does not warrant these services or products, and you should undertake your own due diligence before engaging someone.
Minor works approval
The Heritage Council must approve a minor works approval application if it is reasonably satisfied that the works are consistent with and capable of being carried out in accordance with these guidelines (s42(4)).
A minor works approval must be granted where the works are identified in these Works Guidelines as works that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the historic cultural heritage significance of the relevant registered place or heritage area, and where these works are capable of being carried out in accordance with these guidelines.
Works that do not impact on the heritage significance of a place other than what are described in these guidelines may also be exempt. The Heritage Council has discretion to provide a minor works approval where it is satisfied that the works will have no or negligible impact on the place's significance but where the works do not conform to what is described in these guidelines. Even if you are confident certain works are exempt, you still need to get a minor works approval from the Heritage Council, confirming this status.
To apply for a minor works approval fill out either the form below.
Please note that this is an Adobe Form. Save the form on your computer, and then open it directly in Acrobat Reader. You can type directly into the blue shaded fields. Save for form and email to works@heritage.tas.gov.au.
Minor Works Approval Application Form (PDF 178Kb)
Minor Works Approval Application Form (DOCX 43Kb)
Discretionary permits
The Heritage Council is to have regard to these guidelines when considering a discretionary permit application (s39(2)(d)). These guidelines explain the sort of outcomes that are appropriate for proposals where a discretionary permit is required. They provide broad, general principles for the sound management of historic heritage places in Tasmania. The examples of works that are listed may not be exhaustive, and discretion and caution should be used in its application and interpretation. The Heritage Council will use its discretion in considering each application for a discretionary permit, having particular regard for the likely impact of the proposed works on the historic cultural heritage significance of the place and appropriate measures for the retention of this significance.
Local heritage places or precincts may also be protected and managed at a local level in a heritage code of a planning scheme. A select number of places may also be on the National Heritage List, a Commonwealth Heritage List or the World Heritage List. Requirements for the conservation of those places may not be limited to what is set out in these guidelines. If you are unsure of other heritage listings that may affect the management of your place, Heritage Tasmania may be contacted for information.
These guidelines are a good starting point when contemplating works to a heritage property. You may contact Heritage Tasmania if you are unsure if your proposed works fit within the scope of these guidelines. For proposals that will require a discretionary permit application, it is recommended that feedback on preliminary documentation be obtained from one of Heritage Tasmania advisors, prior to formal lodgement.
If unsure please check these guidelines for more detail or contact Heritage Tasmania.