A new Heritage Council has been appointed for at least one year to protect and manage natural, historic, and First Nations heritage in the ACT.
Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for Heritage, dissolved the ACT Heritage Council in December, following the Nous Group’s findings that the Council’s strained relationships with ACT Heritage, the supporting government agency, and ACT Heritage’s own inefficiencies threatened heritage sites. Ms Vassarotti did not publish the Nous Group’s review in full, despite calls from the Canberra Liberals to do so, stating that its release could ruin reputations and careers.
- ACT minister loses confidence in Heritage Council (29 November 2022)
- Minister dissolves ACT Heritage Council (7 December 2022)
- ACT Heritage Council report may not be in public interest, minister says (9 February)
The Heritage Council is an independent body that identifies, assesses, conserves, and promotes heritage places and objects in the ACT; registers heritage places and objects; advises on works and development matters in accordance with the ACT’s land planning and development system; and encourages public interest in, and awareness of, the ACT’s heritage.
The Council comprises the Chief Planning Executive and Conservator of Flora and Fauna as ex-officio members, and nine members appointed by the Minister.
The new Chairperson is Duncan Marshall AM, a Canberra-based heritage architect, and international heritage consultant. He worked with the Australian Heritage Commission, and was General Secretary of the Australian Council of National Trusts. He planned the conservation of Old Parliament House, Lanyon and Cuppacumbalong Homestead Precincts, CSIRO Black Mountain, and St John’s Church, Reid.
The deputy chair is Catherine Skippington, a management consultant, chair of Northside Community Service, and treasurer of the Wetlands and Woodlands Trust. She has 20 years’ experience in senior executive positions with the Australian and Queensland public services and as a consultant on natural resource management, cultural heritage, regulatory compliance, and organisational culture and change management.
The other new members are:
- Dr Karen Demmery, Aboriginal community representative; mental health first aid and trauma counsellor, CEO of Burbirra Group
- Rachael O’Neill, town planner, head of O’Neill Consulting
- Doug Williams, archaeologist and heritage manager, with expertise in Aboriginal culture
- Kate Clark, industrial archaeologist and academic
- Alanna King, architect and heritage consultant
- David Hobbes, architect and heritage consultant
- Alistair Henchman, planner, nature-based development consultant, director of the Ginninderry Conservation Trust
“I look forward to formally inducting each of the council members in the coming weeks, and continuing the work with them to embed ACT’s unique heritage values as a vital part of our growing and dynamic city,” Ms Vassarotti said.
Mr Marshall and Ms Skippington “bring with them a wealth of national and international experience in heritage protection and management and extensive board leadership”.
“All of the Council members bring unique expertise in diverse areas of heritage, including architecture, natural resource management, Aboriginal and European cultural heritage, archaeology, and nature conservation, as well as community and Aboriginal representation.”
The new council, appointed under the Heritage Act 2004, will be in place for a minimum of one year, while Stenning & Associates, national consultants on strategic reform and policy advice, review heritage arrangements in the ACT.
Ms Vassarotti said that appointing a new council was a significant step within broader heritage reforms, and would allow important heritage activities to resume as needed.
“Future heritage laws, frameworks, and arrangements must be fit for purpose in the ACT and reflect best practise from other jurisdictions,” Ms Vassarotti said. The 40th Canberra and Region Heritage Festival runs until 30 April, while World Heritage Day was on Tuesday.
“There is no better time to engage with and celebrate heritage in the ACT,” Ms Vassarotti said.
