Legislation
Queensland Heritage Act 1992
The Cultural Record (Landscapes Queensland and Queensland Estate)
Act 1987
Heritage Council
The Queensland Heritage Council comprises experts and nominees
from various organisations who are appointed by the Minister.
The Council assesses entries for and administers the Heritage
Register and advises the Minister on matters relating to the state's
cultural heritage. The Council it is assisted by the Cultural
Heritage Branch.
Register
The Queensland Heritage Register is a list of places of cultural
heritage significance to Queensland, maintained by the Queensland
Heritage Council. In March 2002 there were 1,332 places entered
in the register. While anyone can nominate a place to the Heritage
Register, they must provide sufficient information to show that
the place has heritage significance. A strength of the Act is
that the Minister for Environment can impose Stop Work orders
to stop the removal or destruction of a place.
What is included on the Register
The Queensland Heritage Register lists places of aesthetic, architectural,
historical, scientific or social significance or other special
value, to the present community and future generations. Place
can include buildings, groups of buildings, gardens, trees and
natural features of historic significance.
Go to http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environment/culture/registers/
and by clicking on the words 'View summary information on places
in the Queensland Heritage Register' you can search for listed
places.
Criteria for inclusion on the
register
(a) the place is important in demonstrating the evolution
or pattern of Queensland's history
(b) the place demonstrates rare, uncommon, or endangered aspects
of Queensland's cultural heritage
(c) the place has potential to yield information that will contribute
to the understanding of Queensland's history
(d) the place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics
of a particular class of places
(e) the place is important because of its aesthetic significance
(f) the place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative
achievement at a particular period
(g) the place has a strong or special association with a particular
community or cultural group for social, cultural, or spiritual
reasons.(1)
Responsibilities
The Cultural Heritage Branch of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) supports the Heritage Council by assessing nominations to
the QHR, and assessing development applications for places entered
in the Queensland Heritage Register. The Queensland Heritage Act
also has provisions for protection of cultural relics.
Government heritage grant programs
The Cultural Heritage Branch manages the Queensland Community
Cultural Heritage Incentive Program. This scheme offers limited
funding for indigenous and historical projects, identifying and
documenting potential places of cultural significance, projects
that research the history and links between people and places,
and conserving places of cultural heritage significance.
Web page(s) and state government agency address
http://www.heritage.gov.au/index.ql.html
lists state government heritage agencies, database, legislation
and non-statutory heritage sites with links to them.
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environment/culture/
is the home page for the Cultural Heritage Branch.
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environment/culture/grants/
has current information on the Community Cultural Heritage Incentive
Program. This scheme funds both indigenous and historical projects.
The emphasis can vary from year, for more details click on Grants.
For more information write to the Cultural Heritage Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, PO Box 155, Brisbane Albert Street Qld 4002 or ring (07) 3227 6496
Other statutory listings
Under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) local
governments are required to identify valuable features and acknowledge
in planning schemes. Local government registers are becoming more
common. Some local governments employ heritage advisors who can
provide free advice to locals and some local governments have
heritage/history grants programs. Check with your local authority
for what assistance they can provide and if they have any relevant
publications.
The Cultural Record (Landscapes Queensland and Queensland Estate) Act 1987 protects all historical heritage and is the main legislation that protects ATSI cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage Branch of the EPA currently administers this Act. New indigenous cultural heritage legislation is expected in the near future.
Non-statutory registers
National Trust of Queensland web page is at http://www.nationaltrustqld.org/.
The Trust concentrates on built heritage. However, its register
includes landscapes, natural sites and precincts. It also has
a Tree Register. The Trust's postal address is GPO Box 538, Brisbane
Qld 4001, phone number (07) 3229 1788 and e-mail address is info@nationaltrust.qld.org.
Other agencies and grants
The Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund provides
grants to community based organisations to help them provide services
and activities within their local communities. For more information
visit http://www.gcbf.qld.gov.au/
or ring the Secretariat on (07) 3247 4284 or 1800 633 619.
Each casino in Queensland also has a community benefit fund. Applicants must show a high level of community involvement. Grants are generally for facilities or services and the proposal must have an obvious community benefit. Thinking laterally the application could argue that by identifying and researching places of heritage value you would assist the locality's cultural tourism which is an obvious community benefit.
Phone numbers and/or web pages for information about the casino
benefit in your area are:
· Breakwater Island
Casino Community Benefit Fund (07) 4721 1453
· Jupiters Casino Community
Benefit Fund (07) 3808 7444, http://www.jccbf.org.au/
· The Reef Hotel Casino
Community Benefit Fund (07) 4030 8888, http://www.cairnscasinocbf.com
The Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) regularly produces a 280-page publication that lists funding programs from a range of sources including commonwealth, state and local government grants as well as private and philanthropic funds. This useful book also includes how to make successful grant applications. The funding resource manual: The essential resource for community organisations, governments and individuals in Queensland is available on the web at http://www.qcoss.org.au then click on Funding resources on line or inquire about the latest version by ringing (07) 3832 1266, or write to PO Box 306, Red Hill Qld 4059.
1 http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environment/culture/registers/gotr.html