State Heritage Convention
State Heritage Convention 2001
A holistic approach to Heritage
Where we left off in 1999: Major recommendations
The 1999 State Heritage Convention brought together the community of Western Australia to examine principles and standards arising from the Key Outcomes of the National Heritage Convention (HERCON) held in Canberra from 6-7 August 1998. Through their deliberations, delegates achieved a high degree of consensus. The recommendations presented and endorsed at the concluding session of the State Heritage Conference demonstrated the willingness of the community of Western Australia to be actively involved in the formulation of new heritage legislation. Above all delegates agreed on the need for an holistic, statewide cultural heritage strategy encompassing not only built, natural and indigenous heritage but also moveable cultural heritages and other heritage issues.
The major recommendations endorsed by the State Heritage Convention are:
Common standards need to be accepted and promoted. The HERCON Principles and standards were endorsed as appropriate for Western Australia with some word changes and elaboration. The changes suggested included a broader more inclusive definition of heritage, explanations of linkage to the Australian ICOMOS Charter for Places of Heritage Significance (the Burra Charter)
The need for a Western Australian A State Heritage Strategy involving Local Government and addressing the three heritage environments (built, natural and indigenous) was endorsed. Particularly identified was the need to promote and support local government heritage activities including heritage advisory staff, Municipal Inventories and local history activities and library collections.
There is a requirement for improved communication and cooperation between all levels of government and community heritage and conservation organizations.
Community consultation must be improved through recognition of existing community knowledge, early involvement, clear, effective and transparent processes, and continuing two-way feedback as the processes are followed through
An integrated approach to the three heritage environments natural, historic and indigenous was endorsed but with the flexibility to deal with the great variety of heritage and cultural differences. Mechanisms to achieve this have been proposed. Heritage activity needs to be inter-sector, multi disciplinary and multi-cultural.
There is a need for legislation to protect natural and moveable cultural heritage. There is also a need for amendments to existing legislation. Major changes are needed to the Aboriginal Heritage Act. Amendments are required to the Heritage Act to broaden the Heritage Council's powers and operational scope. There was a call for a peak independent body to make decisions on heritage matters.
Issues relating to Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal heritage were poorly handled at present and appropriate community consultation, involvement in decision-making and statewide coordination is urgently needed to improve the situation.
Heritage must come to be regarded as continuing and evolving. In addition to youth education, ongoing education of government, community leaders and organisations about the value of heritage assessment and conservation. is vital.
The issue of funding and provision of resources needs to be addressed through strategic and innovative approaches (eg new funding sources, loans, sharing existing resources, including voluntary networks and using non-heritage resources)
There was a need for clear and equitable accountability of conservation and identification processes at all levels of government
A number of practical recommendations were proposed including:
