Cultural heritage
Protecting cultural heritage
Protecting our cultural heritage places is as important as looking
after the natural environment. Once they're gone, they can never
return.
Queensland's cultural heritage is protected by the Queensland Heritage Act 1992,
administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, to protect
historical heritage places throughout the state. The Aboriginal
Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Torres Strait Islander
Cultural Heritage Act 2003 are administered by the Department of
Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.
Other organisations protecting our heritage are the Australian Heritage Council, local
governments, the National Trust of
Queensland, International Council on Monuments
and Sites and local Indigenous Communities
and Organisations.
Queensland Government
The Environmental Protection Agency conserves and protects
Queensland's cultural heritage through the Queensland Heritage Act
1992 .
The Queensland Heritage Act establishes the Queensland Heritage Council
which:
- advises the Minister for Environment and Heritage on the conservation of Queensland's cultural heritage
- encourages public interest and understanding of heritage issues
- regulates the management of places of Queensland cultural heritage
- maintains the Queensland Heritage Register.
The Agency's Cultural Heritage Unit supports the Heritage
Council in its administration of the Queensland Heritage Register. The
Branch employs architects, historians, archaeologists and
conservationists to advise people on conservation and use of properties
listed in the Heritage Register.
Australian Heritage Council
Established by the Commonwealth Government in February 2004, the
Australian
Heritage Council is the principle adviser to the Australian
government on heritage matters. The Commission's responsibilities
include:
- assessing nominations in relation to the listing of places on the National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage List
- promoting the identification, assessment and conservation of heritage
- compiling and maintaining the Register of the National Estate
Local
governments
Local governments throughout the state use planning schemes and
development control plans to protect cultural heritage places. Some
local councils have created Registers that list places of cultural
heritage significance in their area.
Some councils also hold public meetings to identify and discuss
heritage areas with residents.
The Guidelines for Cultural Heritage
Management published by the Environmental Protection Agency are
available to assist local governments and others responsible for
planning for the management of cultural heritage resources.
National Trust of
Queensland
The National
Trust of Queensland is a non-government organisation that aims to
identify conserve, and promote the state's heritage. The
Trust's main activities include
- conserving and displaying places of cultural heritage significance
- providing community education programs to encourage community awareness of cultural heritage
- updating the Trust List which records significant heritage places
International Council on
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Formed in 1965, ICOMOS is a non-government organisation concerned with
conservation philosophy and techniques. Members participate in
conservation activities. Australia ICOMOS drafted the Burra Charter,
which is an important document on conservation techniques. It's
been widely accepted as the standard for heritage conservation
practices in Australia.
Indigenous communities and
organisations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people work with the
Environmental Protection Agency's Cultural Heritage Unit to manage
and protect Indigenous places on National Parks and Forests. Throughout
Queensland, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are helping
protect heritage places through projects such as building visitor
boardwalks, removing graffiti, and interpreting places. These projects
protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander places and help the wider
community recognise the cultural value of Australia's first peoples
and their heritage.
Last updated: 25 May 2006
