Media Release
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Thursday 22 October
VEAC’s draft recommendations released today set a new direction for the management of our state’s
historic places on public land
The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) today released its Historic Places Investigation
Draft Proposals Paper and kicked off a 60 day consultation process to gather public feedback on draft
recommendations outlined in the paper.
The investigation into historic places on public land was requested in March last year by the then
Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Many thousands of historic places are located on public land in Victoria, from the World Heritage listed
Royal Exhibition Buildings and Carlton Gardens to numerous sites included on local government heritage
overlays. Around a third of the places listed on the Victorian Heritage Register are on public land.
The Council found that – unlike places on private land that may be threatened by demolition or
redevelopment – heritage on public land is mostly at risk through deterioration and inadequate
planning. In recent decades, the management of public historic places has been impacted by
government agency restructures and tightening budgets but has not adapted to this new setting. There
is insufficient strategic planning and available resources are not being used as effectively as possible.
Key features of the draft recommendations are the proposed improvements to accountability and
coordination through the establishment of a commissioner for public land heritage or similar office.
The Council has also recommended that opportunities for new funding sources and cost-effective coordinated use of resources be explored to achieve overall better outcomes.
VEAC Chairperson, Phil Honeywood, says this investigation is an important opportunity to take stock,
modernise arrangements, and plan for the future.
“The new approach will make the most effective use of available resources as well as attracting new
resources. We are proposing reforms to funding arrangements and improved accountability. More
coordinated management will give the community and government confidence that the limited
resources available are invested as wisely as possible” Mr Honeywood said.
Release of this draft proposals paper signals the beginning of the second period of VEAC’s public
consultation. The Council is keen to hear from interested stakeholders on how to best protect and
manage the valuable resource of historic places on Victoria’s public land. Submissions are being
received until Tuesday 22 December 2015.
Stakeholder forums will be held in metropolitan and regional Victoria in November. Following
consultation, VEAC will consider feedback and prepare a Final Report for the Minister by 31 March 2016.
To access a copy of the Draft Proposals Paper, to find details for making a submission and to watch for
details of stakeholder forums please visit the VEAC website www.veac.vic.gov.au
For more information please contact Lisa Bowman, Communication Manager, VEAC on 0419 386 729
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