Many properties across the Diocese are listed as State or Local Heritage Items. If you are uncertain about the heritage status of your property, please refer to the NSW State Heritage Inventory.
If your parish receives notice of a proposed heritage listing, please contact the APT to discuss the implications.
State Heritage Items
The Heritage Act 1977 imposes minimum standards of repair and maintenance on State Heritage Items (buildings, groups of buildings, moveable heritage). Failure to meet these minimum standards could lead to significant fines and charges for repair works commissioned by Heritage NSW. The APT, which holds ultimate legal responsibility, seeks annual responses to a questionnaire that asks about the condition of State Heritage Items and what it costs to maintain them.
Before doing any work on a State Heritage Item you must confirm whether an approval is needed from Heritage NSW. Some works are covered by standard exemptions. These works can be done without approval, but thorough records must be kept by the parish in case the works are ever questioned.
Section 60 Applications are required for non-exempt works and are made online through the NSW Government’s Heritage Management System. To create an application, you will need to register in the system. A draft application can be saved once it has been started so you can collect any information you are missing as you work through it.
Local Heritage Items
If your property is locally listed the requirements around maintenance and building works on heritage items are determined by your local council. If you are not sure what is needed, contact your council’s Heritage Advisor or Strategic Planner.
Owners Consent
Any application to either NSW Environment and Heritage or your local council will require an owner’s consent. Please contact the APT to arrange this.