2.0 Maintenance & repair - rural activities
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There are a range of rural activities which are eligible for a certificate of exemption. Some of these activities are maintenance and repair of existing landscape elements and farm infrastructure, but others are new development. The 'rural activities' described in this are those heritage works and activities that are associated with the usual management of a productive farming property.
The landowner should be familiar with the area that is entered in the Heritage Register. This registered area is defined by either a Central Plan Register (CPR) diagram or a corresponding title plan. Rural activities that occur outside of the registered area are not regulated by the Heritage Council.
In undertaking rural activities, consideration should be given to the impact of works and activities on the heritage significance of the place including: integrity of heritage fabric; proximity to significant features and heritage places; the visibility of proposed works or activities; and any significant archaeological remains. Care should be taken to ensure that works do not detract from the rural character and form of the place as composed by such things as landscape features and building groupings.
2.1 General maintenance
| Maintenance of existing non-historic farming and agricultural elements to ensure the continued productivity of the property (eg: roads, fences, culverts, drains, paths) without change to the material character of these elements. | Maintenance that involves substantial replacement of historic fabric, or the introduction of visually intrusive materials or material of poor physical compatibility.
Appropriate outcomes:
Replacing historic fabric should be minimised as far as practicable. Like-for-like repairs of fabric should be pursued as the first option over replacement. Significant fabric should generally only be replaced where it has degraded to such an extent that it can no longer be repaired. |
2.2 Agricultural Activities (general)
Farming activities (including controlled burns) in areas where these activities have previously occurred (eg: previously ploughed and cropped areas) and where disturbance does not adversely impact on significant features (eg: historic plantings, early fencing and buildings, ruins or significant archaeological remains).
Erecting new fences of a traditional height and of a form consistent with what has been used in the immediate context, where this work does not adversely impact on buildings, ruins, archaeological remains, trees or hedges.
Establishing irrigation infrastructure in areas previously grazed or cropped, not involving the removal of buildings, ruins, trees or hedges, nor disturbance of archaeological remains; and where this infrastructure is not within an area that has significance for landscape values or in an area that forms a significant setting for a heritage place | Establishing farm infrastructure such as water tanks, troughs, vegetation, new fences, or the introduction of any other new elements that will have an adverse impact on a place's character or setting because the work is:
- attached to or in close proximity to heritage building structures or ruins; or
- in an area that has significance for landscape values; or
- in an area that forms a significant setting for a heritage place; or
- is within a significant view corridor; or
- near significant archaeological remains.
Appropriate outcomes:
Where visual intrusion is a concern, appropriate outcomes may include the use of sympathetic, visually recessive or traditional colours and materials, visual screening, and discreet placement so as to having the least possible impact on the place's historic character.
Visually intrusive structures of a temporary nature will in many cases be a more acceptable outcome than those that are designed to be permanent. Appropriate outcomes may also include re-aligning or adjusting the location of new work to allow sight lines or significant relationships to remain readable.
Where a proposal involves physical impacts to historic structures, ruins or archaeology, options for redesign to avoid these impacts should be considered; and, if no alternative is possible, the extent and degree of impact should be minimised, an extant record should be prepared of standing structures, and a controlled archaeological excavation should be undertaken in the areas of an archaeological site that will be disturbed. |
2.3 Introducing new elements
Introducing new elements where the elements will not impact on heritage significance, including landscape elements, setting and views, and where ground disturbance does not impact on significant archaeological values.
Note: New elements might include roads, modifying ground surface, undertaking landscape amenity planting, constructing, or altering or adding to, a building or structure.
For new elements such as dwellings, sheds (including stock and poultry shelters or enclosures), silos and other farm structures, see sections '8 New buildings' and '9 Alterations, additions and extensions', for more information. | The introduction of new elements that may adversely impact on the place’s significance.
Appropriate outcomes:
See section ‘2.2 Agricultural activities (general) for appropriate outcomes. |
2.4 Horticulatural activities
Horticultural activities including establishing vines or trees and constructing trellises, where the trellises or other supporting structures and coverings do not occur:
- within an area that has significance for landscape values; or
- in an area that forms a significant setting for a heritage place; or
- near significant archaeological remains.
Placing light-weight green houses or polytunnels where these structures do not occur:
- within an area that has significance for landscape values; or
- in an area that forms a significant setting for a heritage place.
See section '8 New buildings', particularly '8.2 Temporary structures' for more information. | Horticultural activities that may adversely impact on the place’s significance. Appropriate outcomes:
See section ‘2.2 Agricultural activities (general)' for appropriate outcomes. |
2.5 Planting native vegetation
What is eligible for a certificate of exemption?
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place) | When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes? |
Planting native vegetation within an area that has no significance for landscape values, and is not in an area that forms a significant view corridor or setting for a heritage place, and is not on top of an area of archaeological potential.
See also sections '13.3 Replacement planting' and '13.4 New planting'. | The planting of native vegetation where that may adversely impact on the place’s significance. Appropriate outcomes:
See section '2.2 Agricultural activities (general) for appropriate outcomes. |
2.6 Fencing
Repairing existing fences that are considered to have heritage significance, to ensure they are stock-proof, where the repair matches the previous form, detail and material (eg: split timber post and wire).
Installing new fencing that is sympathetic to the historic rural character of the place, and where the original pattern and form of any significant fencing within the heritage place is retained.
Installing new fencing around a ruin or feature, where the fencing is sympathetic to the established rural character of the place, and does not impact on landscape, setting, significant archaeological values and views (eg: post and wire fence).
Removing existing fences that are not considered to be part of the heritage significance of the place and do not contribute to the setting of a place, including views to and from it.
See also section '12 Residential fences and gates' for more information. | Fencing works that may adversely impact on the place's significance.
Appropriate outcomes:
See section '2.2 Agricultural activities (general)' for appropriate outcomes. |
2.7 Water Tanks and Stock Troughs
Installing new, or replacing old, water tanks where:
- the new tank is of matching galvanised corrugated iron, or similar sympathetic finish, and not more than 2.4 metres in diameter and 2 metres in height; and
- the tank stand is of traditional construction (eg: timber framed) in keeping with the heritage context; and
- archaeological remains will not be affected.
Installing a new tank or stock trough in a location that is outside of the significant curtilage, setting or any important view corridor of the place, and the new tank or trough is of a non-reflective and visually recessive material or positioned so as to be concealed. | The introduction of water tanks and stock troughs that may adversely impact on the place’s heritage significance
See section ‘2.2 Agricultural activities (general) for more appropriate outcomes. |
Rural Case
Study: Historic hedges coexist with
modern pivot irrigators
At
Brickendon in Longford, with the World Heritage Site, narrow openings have
been cut through historic hedges to provide passage for the wheels of pivot
irrigators that are now used to improve pasture. The adaptation of small hedge-rimmed fields
to modern irrigation practices was achieved with very little physical impact on
the landscape. Retention of the hedges
has also minimised the visual presence of the irrigators by partially screening
them from view.