Significant historic plantings or landscapes may include mature trees; designed landscapes such as parks or gardens; hedges or avenues of plantings; and early garden elements such as garden buildings, walls, paving, steps, furniture and fountains.
Altering significant landscapes, gardens and historic plantings should be approached in the same manner as considering any other type of works.
In undertaking landscaping works, a person should consider the heritage significance of the place, with particular reference to the significance of the plantings, landscape and setting, including any significant views to and from a heritage place. For places assessed against criterion (c) – potential to yield information - or there are known significant archaeological values, the potential for impacts to significant archaeological values may also need to be considered.
For particularly significant gardens, parks or landscapes, the Heritage Council may require a landscape management plan to be submitted with the application. The plan should analyse the significance of the place and provide strategies for the conservation of the landscape values.
13.1 Changing significant landforms
| Erosion control or stabilisation works. | Significantly altering the topography or landscape of a place through excavation.
Appropriate outcomes:
Engineering advice may be required where excavations are proposed which may place at risk the structural integrity of a heritage building.
As a first principal, excavations which result in adverse impacts to the significance of a place or its setting should be avoided. Where excavation is unavoidable, the extent of excavation should be minimised as far as practicable. Significant landforms that should be conserved may include those natural features that have been purposely chosen to be incorporated as part of the design of the place (eg: locating buildings or plantings in elevated positions) and modified landforms (eg: significant modifications such as water races or channels, early quarries or mining sites, early reclamation works).
See section '7 Excavation and archaeological investigations' for works being undertaken in a place that may have significant archaeological values. |
13.2 Changes to significant gardens or landscapes
Reconstructing garden beds based on documented or physical evidence.
Minor changes to the layout of the garden or landscape (eg: re-routing of secondary paths) in areas with no significant archaeological values.
The introduction of portable and ephemeral elements (eg: garden benches and discreet elements).
For structures such as sheds see also section '9.5 Additions or extensions'. | Changes to significant gardens or landscapes.
Appropriate outcomes:
If re-establishing a garden design or landscape, it should be renewed to a specific period when the landscape best achieved the intended design or function. It is important to retain the integrity of the layout and pattern of the landscape and general appearance of the plantings.
Full replanting may be appropriate in formal gardens if the majority of the plants are in decline, or where replacement plantings mismatch the overall shape, structure, foliage or colour of the historic plantings.
Replacement trees in parks and open landscaped gardens such as homesteads may be established while older trees are managed to senescence. Care should be taken, however, to retain the dominant pattern of open spaces.
Retain original plants (species and cultivars) wherever possible unless there are health and age issues, the plant has become invasive or there are hazard issues. |
13.3 Replacement planting
Replacement planting where:
- significant damaged or distressed trees are to be removed and replaced with matching species in a suitable location using the advice of a suitably qualified arborist; or
- planting will conserve or reinstate the landscape character or planting theme.
| Replacing plantings where different species may be used.
Appropriate outcomes:
In this case, the replacement should be as close as practical to the overall shape, structure, foliage and colour as the historic plant. If possible, choosing a species that was commonly in use at the historic reference period helps to reflect the original design intent. If significant views and vistas are noted in the Heritage Register entry, replacement plantings should attempt to retain those views and vistas. |
13.4 New planting
At a place without significant archaeological values, planting that:
- does not obscure significant views or vistas to or from a place, and where such planting reinstates original plantings for which there is documented or physical evidence; or
- extends and is consistent with historic planting patterns to reinforce the historic landscape; or
- is in an area not associated with the heritage values of the place and has no or negligible impact on the significance of the place.
At a place with known significant archaeological values, where:
- previous disturbance of the soil has occurred and the soil will only be disturbed to the same depth as previously; and
- growth of the plant will not adversely impact significant archaeological values.
| New planting/s in an area of significant archaeological values.
Appropriate outcomes:
This may trigger conditions, except where plant roots are known to be less deep than the depth of significant archaeological values. |
13.5 Removing plantings
Removal of non-significant plantings, where:
- there is no impact to the social or community value of any planting (eg: memorial plantings); or
- the vegetation does not contribute to the heritage significance of a place.
Removing a significant planting, where:
- it presents an urgent threat to life or property; and/or
- - an arborist confirms that it is senescent (ie: has reached the end of its life).
| Removing significant plantings.
Appropriate outcomes:
Retaining significant historic plantings is the preferred option. Where removal is agreed to, a replacement planting may be required.
Removing a significant tree or undertaking substantial pruning, where supported by an arborist's assessment.
Removing plantings of lower significance to save plantings of higher significance where supported by an arborist's assessment.
Removing historic plantings that constitute a hazard to life or built structure where supported by an arborist's assessment.
Removing historic plantings that are part of an earlier design or function that are now considered weeds and where supported by a detailed discussion on alternatives considered, including re-establishing the planting feature with replacement plantings. |
13.6 Removal of wood or branches; hedge trimming and pruning
Removing dead wood or branches, hedge trimming and pruning to plantings of no heritage significance.
For plantings of heritage significance:
- tree work by an arborist, with an awareness of the heritage values of the plantings, as necessary for the health of the plants;
- minor pruning of the crown to control size (generally less than 1/5 of branch length and 1/10 volume of a canopy), improve shape, flowering or fruiting in a manner that conserves the cultural significance and aesthetic values of the plantings;
- pruning to remove diseased, dead or dangerous material;
- hedge clipping that does not have an adverse appearance on the plant or harms the health of the plant;
- returning a hedge to its original form, where the health and viability of the plants are not detrimentally affected.
| Removal of wood or branches, hedge trimming or pruning where the works may result in the loss of the tree Appropriate outcomes: See section ‘13.5 – Removing plantings’ for appropriate outcomes. |
13.7 Hard landscaping
Altering non-significant landscape elements (eg: modern driveways, paving, decks), where these do not impact on heritage significance, including significant archaeological values.
Repairing structural fabric including edgings where the repair matches the previous form, detail and material.
Maintaining original hard landscape elements using methods that do not damage the fabric of the elements or impact on the setting of the place.
Maintaining and repairing original garden structures, fences and gates, walls, paths, paving and edging, roads and tracks, furniture, fittings and services conserved in their original locations (eg: re-gravelling pathways matching previous material).
Replacing deteriorating garden edging with new material that matches previous material.
Removing or replacing non-significant garden elements.
Reconstructing pathways, beds and other hard landscaping elements based on documented or physical evidence in areas with no significant archaeological values.
See also section '6.1 Relocating buildings or structures'. | Altering significant hard landscaping elements
Appropriate outcomes:
Surviving early garden elements are rare and should be retained and form, materials and detailing of original landscape design should be maintained where possible. For example, original straight paths or drives should not be replaced with curvilinear, or vice versa.
Where edgings such as tiles are to be replaced, like-for-like is the preferred option. Where other materials are used they should be sympathetic to the values of the place. |
13.8 Ponds and water features
Maintenance and repair to:
- basic plumbing;
- leaks in artificial lakes and ponds;
- control algae.
Stripping of defective lining in artificial lakes and ponds where replacement lining will match previous detail, form and material.
Installing safety barrier fences that do not have an adverse impact on the landscape and setting. | New ponds and water features within significant landscapes or spaces or in an area with archaeological potential.
Appropriate outcomes:
New ponds or water features should be designed to be sympathetic to the character of the place.
See also section '9 Alterations, additions and extension'.
Where possible, avoid excavation in areas of archaeological potential. If unavoidable, works should be preceded by a controlled archaeological excavation.
See also section '7 Excavation and archaeological investigation'. |
13.9 Retaining walls
Removing or replacing unsympathetic or non-significant retaining walls with materials and detailing sympathetic to the character of the place.
Repairing or rebuilding original walls using the same method of construction, and with matching form, material and detail, including finish.
New retaining walls that are sympathetic to the values of the place and do not impact on archaeological values. | Installing a new retaining wall where there may be an impact on archaeological values. Appropriate outcomes:
See section ‘7 Excavation and archaeological investigation’ for appropriate outcomes. |
13.10 New flagpoles
Installing a new flagpole where:
- it will be located in a garden; and
- the fixture will not impact on significant heritage fabric, significant archaeological values or other aspects of significance; and
- will not intrude on the setting and streetscape character of the place.
Replacing or reinstating an original or significant flagpole where the new structure will match the original detail, form and material.
Removing a non-significant flagpole where there is no damage to significant heritage fabric, significant archaeological values or other aspects of significance. | Installing a new flagpole where there may be an impact on archaeological values. Appropriate outcomes:
See section ‘7 Excavation and archaeological investigation’ for appropriate outcomes. |
13.11 Buildings or works near significant trees
Works which do not impact on the health, form and character of the plant, or where the impact is minimised in line with Australian Standard AS-4970 Protection of Trees on Development Sites.
Installing temporary structures; see section '8.2 Temporary Structures'. | Building or works near significant trees.
Appropriate outcomes:
Harm or damage to significant trees should be avoided. Specialist advice from an arborist may be required to determine management approaches so that trees can be maintained in a stable, healthy condition. Measures may include avoiding root pruning, avoiding soil compaction and locating buildings or services beyond the drip line of the tree. See Australian Standard AS-4970 Protection of Trees on Development Sites. |
13.12 Car Parking
New car parking provided in a discreet location (to the rear or side of a place) that does not involve the removal of significant plantings or landscape features.
See section '10.6 Parking and external circulation'. | New car parking that may have an impact on heritage significance.
Appropriate outcomes:
Design car parking to avoid significant visual impacts on the setting of a place.
Visual impacts can be minimised where car parking is provided at the side or rear of a place. Where this is not possible, consideration should be given to the surface material of the car park as well as screening the car park, for example through plantings.
New car parking should be designed to retain significant elements such as significant plantings or other garden features. |
13.13 Archaeological considerations
| See section ‘7 Excavation and archaeological investigation’. | Planting or removing plants in areas of identified or potential significant archaeological values.
Appropriate outcomes:
This may trigger conditions, except where plant roots are known to be less deep than the depth of significant archaeological values. |
Case Study (Landscape Works): A significant landscape, Bellerive
Wirksworth is a large nineteenth century house located within expansive grounds on Hobart's eastern shore. Publicly owned, the place is notable for its numerous historic plantings, in particular its cypress and pine trees, which began to be planted during the early twentieth century. By 2010, a number of these trees had become dangerous hazards, either dead or approaching the end of their life. Approval was given for the removal of these dead and dying trees. In response to the negative impacts on the landscape, a management plan was prepared to analyse in more detail the significance of the place and provide a strategy for its conservation. Because of this process, a strategy was developed for maintaining existing trees which were in a healthy state, whilst also allowing for the progressive establishment of new trees throughout the property. These works will assist in ensuring the landscape values of the place are maintained.
Case Study (Landscape Works): Princes Park, Battery Point
Princess Park is an important place of recreation in Battery Point. Particularly popular is the playground equipment designed as a sailing ship. The park is significant for its longstanding recreational use, its landscape of open lawns, gardens and mature trees, and as the location of three of Hobart's early defence batteries. In recent years, works have been undertaken to improve the amenity and safety of the park. In 2005, the old timber play equipment was replaced, again adopting the form of a sailing ship. In 2012, works were carried out to install a lighting system that met current standards. As a place with significant archaeological values, the works were preceded by an archaeological assessment to identify areas of potential sensitivity, and to provide a management response to avoid or minimise impacts.
