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Annual Report 1999-2000
PROGRAMME: ADVOCACY
Objective: To promote the conservation of Western Australia's unique heritage through identification, assessment and classification of places of heritage significance.
Key Strategies:
To develop and maintain links with key organisations.
To continue to identify, assess and classify places as objects of cultural and natural significance.
To maintain public recognition as the State's foremost community organisation as a heritage lobbyist and educator through representation and well considered positions on heritage issues.
To advocate for the adoption of compatible, effective and efficient heritage conservation policies and practices.
Major Achievements
Increased participation with key heritage bodies.
Increased heritage related activities with government, private companies and individuals.
Links With Key Organisations
The Trust is associated with a great range of local and community organisations and has found this demand to be increasing. These bodies include the following:
Classification
Classification is an honour bestowed on a place or object by the Council of the National Trust. Although having no legal status, Classification by the National Trust is widely respected by all categories of government as well as the general community. Not only does it highlight the heritage significance of a place or object, but it also encourages its conservation.
The Trust is conscious of the fact that many owners of heritage places are nervous or confused about classification thinking it may mean no further development can occur. The Trust regularly provides assistance conservation and development advice to owners as part of the ongoing education process.
Classifications July 1999 - June 2000
Historic Rail Vehicle Register
Advocacy Activities
The National Trust's most difficult and controversial activity is advocacy for heritage. The Heritage Council of Western Australia is a State government instrumentality and, as such, is precluded from public advocacy. Indeed the code of conduct adopted by government instrumentalities requires Heritage Councillors to "acknowledge and respect legitimate interests" of the Premier and the Minister of the day.
Therefore the National Trust must carry the burden of informing the public about important heritage issues and, when appropriate, it must fiercely defend the State's heritage against depredations whether from State government, local government or private enterprise.
A powerful tool for advocacy will be an effective web site. The Trust is reviving its site and will depend on volunteers to help run it.
The National Trust is planning to establish a committee to deal with advocacy issues. Increasingly the Trust is requested by its Council and its members to take an active role advocating for heritage issues. This year the Trust was involved in advocating for the conservation of the places listed below:
The Advocacy Committee will be established in the year 2000/2001after the policies and structure of the Committee are determined, and as indicated in the revised Corporate Plan 2000 - 2005.
Many controversies lie ahead and the National Trust must involve itself persuasively, where appropriate, with restraint and without impairing its good standing with the whole community as well as the government of the day.
