Decision details

The original motion was moved by Councillor Jarrett, seconded by Councillor Gannon.

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)           Sydney contains diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and environmental heritage, and heritage constructed following European colonisation;

(ii)          the City of Sydney provides the Heritage Floorspace Scheme which allows for the conservation management of heritage-listed buildings;

(i)           the City of Melbourne, the City of Adelaide, the City of Perth, and the City of Newcastle have long-term heritage strategies that provide a framework to ensure heritage protection;

(ii)         the City of Sydney’s heritage framework is embedded in our planning documents and we have appropriate resources to assess heritage conservation in our Local Government Area;

(iii)        the City has a City historian and heritage officers employed in planning strategy and operational areas;

(iv)        the Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 (LEP) sets out objectives and requirements for heritage conservation and lists conservation areas and items in our Local Government Area. This includes to conserve environmental heritage, heritage buildings, conservation areas, archaeological sites and Aboriginal objects and places;

(v)         the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012 (DCP) includes controls to ensure heritage conservation and enhancement is considered as part of development. The City of Sydney Heritage Development Control Plan 2006 applies to a small area of land along part of the southern boundary of the LGA not covered by the 2012 DCP;

(vi)        the alternative heritage floor space scheme allows developers to defer the timing of allocation of Heritage Floor Space or make a monetary contribution if there is an insufficient amount of Heritage Floor Space available for purchase;

(vii)      our heritage conservation fund is then used to prepare conservation management plans and maintain heritage items that cannot receive awards such as parks and places;

(viii)     in 2019, the City commissioned a heritage study of post-World War II architecture and subsequently in 2020, Council listed an additional nine heritage items, including our own Town Hall House; and

(ix)        as part of the City’s substantial LEP and DCP review, which is due to come to Council for its consideration early next year, the conservation area review aims to support the retention and adaptation of buildings that contribute to the character of an area, allow reasonable alterations and additions and provide clarity and certainty for landowners and neighbours; and

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to offer a briefing to all Councillors so that they can be provided more detailed information on the City’s heritage framework with an opportunity to ask questions, if desired.

The amended motion was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (7)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Ellsmore, Kok, Scott and Scully.

Noes (3)          Councillor Gannon, Jarrett and Weldon.

Amended motion carried.

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