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The feedback provided in this early consultation will be used to inform one or more of the above studies, strategies or reviews depending upon the ideas or issues raised.
Feedback will be considered at the end of the consultation period and again (where relevant) at the time we commence work on a relevant study. e.g. if you provide comment on archaeological heritage this may be considered to inform the Integrated Heritage Strategy and potentially again in the Heritage Items Review and the Archaeological Study.
Each study or strategy will be publicly exhibited before being finalised by Council and before any changes to planning controls are made.
Yes, both the Heritage Items Review and the Heritage Conservation Areas Review studies will be exhibited and you will be able to make a submission at that time.
The Integrated Heritage Strategy (IHS) will be the overarching strategy dealing with all heritage matters that Council is responsible for.
The IHS will set out the vision for Council’s heritage, Council’s heritage management responsibilities, statutory and planning context, historic and contemporary context, guiding principles, opportunities, and a prioritised action plan for heritage matters.
This will include promotion of the City’s history and programs to support heritage owners, and consideration of heritage resourcing and business operation requirements.
A review is being undertaken of the existing Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs) identified in Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 2023.
The study will also consider opportunities for potential new HCAs where heritage significance can be demonstrated. Generally, the following matters may be reviewed as part of the study:
• Boundaries of the HCAs
• Identification of new heritage items, and contributory, neutral and detracting items within the HCAs.
• Objectives and controls for HCAs in Parramatta Development Control Plan (DCP) 2023.
• Any potential new HCAs.
• Preparation of heritage inventory forms for a number of HCAs.
Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs) are areas of land, precincts, neighbourhoods or groups of properties and streets, which collectively have been recognised as having specific and significant historical value recognised by the community which should be protected.
Features which influence protection include patterns of subdivision, building style, landscaping and streetscape. They often provide evidence of a particular historical period of development and/or a distinct architectural style and generally have a high proportion of original buildings.
HCAs are listed and mapped in Parramatta LEP 2023 and therefore protected by legislation.
Contributory items are significant buildings located within HCAs that by virtue of their age, scale, materials, details, design style or intactness collectively demonstrate the history of a HCA and contribute to its significance. Contributory items are required to be retained.
Neutral items are buildings within a HCA that do not adversely or beneficially impact on the character and heritage significance of the HCA.
Detracting items are buildings that are disruptive because of their visual character, form, scale or use that is in conflict with the values of the HCA.
Neutral or detracting items together form non-contributory items that are not required to be retained.
HCAs can also contain individually listed heritage items, which are important buildings that have heritage significance in their own right.
A heritage inventory form is the record of information that supports and justifies the listing of a heritage item or a heritage conservation area.
Heritage inventory forms describe the item and identifies heritage significance. This includes the item name, address, physical description, statement of significance, historical notes and an assessment in line the NSW Heritage significance criteria together with current (and past) photographs.
These inventory forms provide important information that can be later referenced by land owners, Council and other government agencies.
The Thematic History Study will provide the broad historical context for understanding the patterns and forces that shape an area over time, including any key themes that have influenced an area’s evolution and development.
The study will prioritise the aspects of the City of Parramatta’s heritage that should be protected and will help inform the Heritage Items Review and may also influence the final policy outcomes arising out of the Heritage Conservation Areas HCAs Review.
Specifically, the Thematic History Study should:
• identify local themes relevant to the contemporary City of Parramatta community that have regard to NSW State themes.
• identify any new themes and gaps in heritage protection.
• consider both indigenous and non-indigenous history.
• in addition, consider Parramatta’s migrant communities, archaeology, landscapes and natural environments (including waterways).
The review of heritage items will involve:
- Review of existing heritage items identified in Parramatta LEP 2023.
- Investigation of any potential new heritage items.
- Preparation of heritage inventory forms.
Review of existing heritage items
There are over 700 heritage items identified in Parramatta LEP 2023. The review will include the following:
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- Review of current heritage items, including whether the heritage listing should be retained, modified, or removed from the LEP.
- Revise/update heritage inventory information as required for each heritage item.
- Identify any local listed heritage items which could be nominated for State heritage listing.
- Review relevant DCP controls for heritage items (excluding Parramatta CBD, as these were only recently reviewed under the Parramatta CBD Planning Framework Review).
Investigation of new heritage items
This involves an analysis of new potential heritage listings across the City of Parramatta LGA. This study would investigate any potential new heritage items, arising from the outcomes of the thematic history study, community / stakeholder nominations, and Council officer recommendations. It would also include the preparation of new inventory statements for heritage items to be added to the LEP.
Heritage Inventory Sheets review and update
Following local government amalgamations in 2016, the heritage inventory sheets for heritage items inherited from the former The Hills and Holroyd LGAs were minimal or very old. This task includes a major review and update of theses heritage inventory sheets.
Heritage items consist of buildings, places, objects and landscapes, including houses, public and commercial buildings, parks and monuments that the City of Parramatta community has inherited from the past and wishes to protect for future generations. Heritage items are listed in Schedule 5 Environmental Heritage of Parramatta LEP 2023.
Parramatta LEP 2023 includes approximately 700 heritage items of local significance, many of which show the evolution of Parramatta’s history including a large collection of 19th century and early 20th century houses.
Also included in Parramatta LEP 2023 are approximately 40 heritage items of State heritage significance.
The key difference between heritage items and heritage conservation areas is that heritage items typically relate to individual places and buildings of significance that are legally protected in Council’s LEP, whereas heritage conservation areas relate to precincts, neighbourhoods or groups of properties and streets, recognised collectively for their special historical and aesthetic character.
The LEP protects and recognises heritage conservation areas but not individual properties, unless of course the heritage conservation area also contains properties that are individually listed as heritage items.
In very rare instances a heritage item may be delisted if the item has been assessed by a heritage expert to no longer retain its identified heritage significance. De-listing is a lengthy process that will require an amendment to Council’s LEP and in particular the endorsement of Council and the approval of the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
The key purpose of the Aboriginal Heritage Study will be to update data on Aboriginal sites and places and provide an improved understanding of the current condition of Aboriginal sites.
The study will be informed by consultation with traditional land owners and Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
This study will review the 20 archaeological sites currently identified in the Parramatta LEP 2023 and undertake further research to determine whether further archaeological sites need to be identified and protected.
In addition, this review would include an update of the Parramatta Historical Archaeological Landscape Management Study (PHALMS), which was particularly focused on the archaeology of the Parramatta CBD and how it should be considered if/when sites within the CBD are redeveloped.
