Indicator: Heritage management

| Indicator description | Complete list of Indicators |

What the results tell us for Tumut

See also: | Heritage listings |

Condition assessments and management plans have not been recorded for any of the 23 listed items of heritage interest found in the Shire.

Information on the condition of heritage items listed on the NSW State Heritage Register (SHR) should be more available for the next comprehensive State of the Environment Report, following commencement of the annual reporting requirement for State Government agencies to provide information on condition of each publicly-owned SHR listed item in 2000-01.

The website for the Register of the National Estate (www.environment.gov.au/heritage) typically contains a description and condition statement for each item listed. It could reasonably be interpreted that a recent listing would contain a recent condition statement.

About the data

Data provided by Tumut Shire Council, from Council records, NSW State Heritage Office (www.environment.gov.au/heritage) and Australian Heritage Commission (www.environment.gov.au/heritage).

Description: What does 'heritage management' measure?

Which data are collected?

• number and proportion of heritage listings with a condition statement and age of the condition statement
• proportion of heritage listings with a current management plan and/or restoration action

Why do we report this indicator?

Ongoing management of places and objects of value on heritage lists is necessary to maintain the values for which places and objects were initially listed. Objects need to be fully catalogued for time and place of collection to be of real heritage value.

Condition statements identify the quality of the physical structure of the interior and exterior of buildings. Condition can also include integrity: the intactness and other attributes for which the building is considered to be significant. Renovation for alternative uses can detract from the integrity, even though the physical structure might be good. The age of the condition statement indicates the effort put into monitoring and maintaining the condition of heritage places.

Management plans provide a framework for maintaining values, ensuring appropriate landuses and preventing or ameliorating threats/uses that are incompatible with heritage value, noting that continuing use is more likely to maintain expenditure on maintenance.

Ideally all heritage listings would have a recent condition statement and a management plan that includes any restoration actions. Where either or both of these do not exist, it could be concluded that the community has not been managing its heritage adequately, due to a lack of interest or a lack of resources.