Cultural Heritage, Scenic Amenity and Indigenous Interests amendment

The Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 is a living and evolving document regulating how land, buildings, and structures are used and developed. To ensure the planning scheme remains up-to-date, we regularly review it and make amendments.

Council is currently reviewing the planning scheme’s Local Heritage Register, which outlines places of heritage significance in the Central Highlands. Refer to the information sheet about Local Heritage Registers (located on this page) to find out more about what this means. To help with this process, we have commissioned a heritage consultancy firm, Converge Heritage + Community.

As part of the review, we are asking residents to help identify local cultural heritage sites for possible inclusion in the overlay.

Currently, there are 22 places of local cultural heritage significance represented on the heritage overlay map. Development proposed for these places is assessed using the Heritage Overlay Code.

What is Heritage?

Heritage can be tangible and intangible. Tangible heritage is the most familiar to people and can consist of buildings, archaeological places, landscapes, views, and objects. Intangible heritage can include traditions, ideas, and cultural practices. It can include places where a particular event occurred but there is no remaining physical evidence of it. Whether tangible or intangible, heritage is defined by the idea of significance.

Every historical theme and historical source will be considered, including historic towns and settlements, scenic amenity locations, First Nation sites, previous heritage studies, registers and lists.

How to get involved

Submissions are open to everyone to nominate places of historic significance, including historic towns and settlements, scenic amenity locations, First Nation sites, previous heritage studies, registers and lists.

Step 1: Take a photo of a place that has cultural and/heritage significance to you.

Step 2: Drop a pin on the map below at the location, attach the photo and tell us in the description box why it's significant to you.

Note: Remember to get permission from the landowner if the place is on private property.

You are welcome to call a member of the community engagement team on 1300 242 686 if you would like assistance making a submission. If you do not have access to a computer, we can make a submission on your behalf.

We look forward to hearing from you and continuing to conserve our history and heritage for future generations.