Heritage signifigance and conservation (MHI)
The City of Fremantle's planning scheme and policies require that the heritage values of the Fremantle area are protected and enhanced through careful management of development.
Heritage issues are part of our considerations in determining a development approval, and the development may be refused if council heritage values are not being appropriately conserved.
Development proposals which involve demolition or significant alteration of a historic building or site must include an assessment of the heritage values and the effect development would have on these values.
Prior to consideration of any proposal to (re)develop a place, council may prepare a heritage impact statement, which will consider the:
- heritage significance of the place
- impact of the proposed development on significance.
The heritage impact statement will be available to owners, neighbours and the public for comment prior to adoption.
Places of heritage significance should be conserved in accordance with the principles of the Burra Charter - the Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) charter for places of cultural significance - which has been accepted by council as a guide for the conservation of places of cultural heritage significance.
What is a local government municipal heritage inventory (MHI)?
The municipal heritage inventory (MHI) is a list of places and structures which, in the opinion of the local government, are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance. Local governments are required under s.45 of the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 to prepare a municipal inventory to recognise the heritage importance of places to the local community.
The City of Fremantle's MHI assists to:
- maintain a cultural record of the Fremantle area
- determine conservation policies
- conserve and manage heritage places in the City of Fremantle.
What is the history of the City of Fremantle's MHI?
The City of Fremantle first adopted the Fremantle Society's heritage list compiled during 1979-80 as its heritage database in 1987, in order to give consideration to conservation issues under its Town Planning Scheme No.3.
Over the years, places have been added to the list through heritage surveys and studies commissioned by the City. The City adopted the combined heritage database as its MHI in September 2000. In 2007, the City of Fremantle adopted the MHI as their Heritage List under Local Planning Scheme No. 4.
Do MHIs offer legal protection?
Places entered in a MHI do not have legal protection, unless they are listed in a separate heritage list which is linked to the local planning scheme, or are already entered in the State Register of Heritage Places. At the City of Fremantle the MHI = the Heritage List.
What determines whether a place has heritage significance?
The cultural heritage significance of the places on the MHI and heritage list have been determined in accordance with the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 as defined "in relation to a place, the relative value which that place has in terms of its aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance, for the present community and future generations". The criteria for the assessment of heritage places include:
Nature of Significance
1. aesthetic value
2. historic value
3. scientific value
4. social value
Degree of Significance
5. rarity
6. representative.
For more information visit the Heritage Council of Western Australia website.
A 'place' means site, area, land, landscape, building or other work, group of buildings or other works, and may include components, contents, spaces and views (Burra Charter). Therefore, the MHI and heritage list, includes buildings and places such as precincts or heritage areas, sites which may include buildings which have been demolished, limestone features and landscapes including trees.
What are the management categories and what do they mean?
Management category - Level 1A
This place has been entered in the Heritage Council of Western Australia's (HCWA) Register of Heritage Places under the Heritage Act 1990. All development applications must be referred by the City to the Heritage Council of Western Australia for advice. This place is considered by the City of Fremantle to be of exceptional significance to the City and its conservation is required. The place should be conserved in accordance with the principles of the Burra Charter.
Management category - Level 1B
It is recommended that this place be considered for entry in the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places, as this place is considered by the City of Fremantle to be of exceptional significance to the City and its conservation is required.
Management Category - Level 2
The City of Fremantle has identified this place as being of cultural heritage significance in its own right.
Management Category - Level 3
The City of Fremantle has identified this place as being of cultural heritage significance for its contribution to the streetscape, local area, and Fremantle as a collective whole.
Other management categories include:
- historic/archaeological site
- heritage precincts
- limestone features
- landscape
- conservation area.