Heritage Planning

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Heritage makes up an important part of the character of the Camden Local Government Area (LGA). Camden’s heritage comprises of a diverse range of items, places, and precincts of heritage significance. Items, places or precincts may include public buildings, private houses, housing estates, archaeological sites, industrial complexes, bridges, roads, churches, schools, parks and gardens, trees, memorials, lookouts, and natural areas. Heritage significance includes all the values that make that item, place or precinct special to past, present and future generation.

A current list (as of September 2020) of State and Local Heritage items in the Camden Local Government Area can be found here.

My Camden Story

My Camden Story Icon 002 pngCouncil's Heritage Advisory Committee is running a social media campaign, asking residents to uncover their untold stories behind Camden's rich and diverse history.

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Unlock Camden

Camden Picture Theatre

Celebrated every year during History Week, Unlock Camden celebrates the amazing history our area holds in buildings, stories and its people.

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Heritage of Western Sydney App

HWS

Camden's colonial heritage sits within a network of historical buildings, farmhouses, churches and roads within the greater Western Sydney region. Each item has a unique history which tells the story of how our area came to be and evolved over time.Camden Council, in conjunction with Penrith, Hawkesbury and Liverpool Councils have developed the Heritage of Western Sydney smartphone app to acknowledge and celebrate the heritage assets that exist in our regions. The free app is available for download via iTunes, Android or GooglePlay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out if a property is heritage listed?

A property is a heritage item if it is:

A property is within the Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) if it is shown within the Conservation Area - General area on a 'Heritage Map' within the Camden LEP 2010.

How is heritage determined?

Heritage listing of a property provides formal recognition by Camden Council and/or the other levels of Government that the property has heritage significance and that the community wants it protected for future generations.

There are seven established criteria against which heritage significance is determined by Heritage New South Wales (NSW).

It is important to understand that heritage listing does not prevent future changes. Changes and additions that respect and retain the qualities and characteristics that make the heritage place special are encouraged.

View the Heritage Listing Explained information booklet from the Heritage Council of NSW outlining what heritage listing means to you, the benefits and effects, fact verses myth and how to make sympathetic changes.

Understanding significance is the first step which will guide what new work or changes are appropriate. A heritage consultant can advise on what is of heritage significance on the property and advise on what works are appropriate. Download a list of consultants and practitioners.

What is a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) or heritage precinct?

A Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) is an area that has historic significance and (usually) also a distinctive character of heritage significance, which it is desirable to conserve. A HCA is more than a collection of individual heritage items – it is an area in which historical origins and relationships between the various elements create a sense of place that is worth keeping. While individual buildings within the HCA may not all have sufficient significance to be listed as heritage items, collectively they have a value worth retaining. It is possible for buildings that do not contribute to the HCA to be redeveloped or modified with a better infill design at a later time.

HCAs are listed on local environmental plans, while heritage areas of State significance are listed as heritage precincts on the NSW State Heritage Register. While the majority of properties will be contributory items, the area may also contain individually listed heritage items.

It is possible that other HCAs or heritage precincts may be identified in the future as being of heritage significance.

In Camden LGA, there are two HCAs identified in Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2010– Camden Town Centre HCA and Struggletown HCA. For further information, visit the NSW Heritage website.

What is a Culturally Significant Place?

Properties that are culturally significant places are listed in Part 2, Section 2.16.9 Culturally Significant Places of Camden DCP 2019.

These items have been flagged as potential heritage items. Further investigation of the heritage significance of these items is required to be carried out on each place when a development application is lodged to determine if the place is of heritage significance.

What is of Aboriginal Heritage significance in the Camden area?

Aboriginal people are the cultural owners of information relating to their heritage. It is vital to Aboriginal people and to the richness of Camden's heritage that these important spiritual and cultural links to land are maintained by preserving and protecting places of cultural significance. Aboriginal cultural knowledge provides crucial links between the past and present and represents an essential part of the identities of Aboriginal people and all Australians.

Aboriginal cultural heritage consists of places, traditions, beliefs, customs, values and objects that represent the living history of past Aboriginal generations and are of important cultural and heritage significance to Aboriginal people.

Camden Council is committed to and required by law to preserve and minimise harm to items and sites of Aboriginal heritage significance.

Prior to commencing any development works that may harm Aboriginal objects or places, the due diligence code of practice must be used to determine whether the applicant should apply for consent in the form of an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP).

An AHIP is required from Heritage NSW for any activity likely to have an impact on Aboriginal objects and places before work takes place. This includes known Aboriginal items identified in Table B7 of the DCP, identified on the AHIMS register, or an Aboriginal item discovered as part of site investigations or development.

Further Information

 

What are the regulations, legislations, and guidelines which apply to my heritage property?

All Councils within NSW have a responsibility under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Heritage Act 1977 to protect heritage places through their identification, planning and controls. Camden Council does this in:

  • Clause 5.10 of Camden LEP 2010 (LEP) which sets out objectives and controls to conserve the heritage significance of heritage places. The impact of new development on the heritage significance of the place must be considered. Schedule 5 of the LEP lists the heritage items and maps the heritage conservation areas.
  • Clause 5.10 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006 sets out objectives and controls which can be found as set out below:

    • Appendix 1 Oran Park and Turner Road Precinct Plan – Clause 5.10 Heritage Conservation
    • Appendix 9 Camden Growth Centres Precinct Plan - Clause 5.10 Heritage Conservation.

Owners of heritage listed properties are required to seek development approval from Camden Council if they wish to make changes which may affect the heritage significance of the place.

The following planning controls provide guidelines for appropriate work at heritage places:

  • Part 2, Section 2.16: Environmental Heritage of Camden Development Control Plan 2019 (DCP); and
  • Oran Park Development Control Plan 2007,
  • Turner Road Development Control Plan 2007, and
  • Camden Growth Centre Precinct Development Control Plan.

A copy of the above can be found on the Planning Controls (LEP, DCP and SWGA) webpage.

What information should be provided with a heritage related Development Application (DA)?

Dependant on your property and scope of works, additional information may be requested as part of your DA. As a guide, please refer to the Heritage Related Development Guideline.

For specific details on what is required as part of a DA submission, refer to the Prepare webpage.

For more information on a checklist for new developments or adaptation projects in a historic context see Determining Heritage Application For Work To Heritage Items (section 7 of Heritage Guidelines), Design in Context: Guidelines for Infill development in the historic environment/NSW Environment and Heritage , and New Users for Heritage Places; Guidelines for the Adaptation of Historic Buildings and Sites/NSW Environment and Heritage

For more information on these terms see  the Dictionary in Camden LEP 2010 or the Dictionary in the Growth Centres SEPP.

View a list of consultants and practitioners on Heritage NSW website.

What are the procedures for work to State listed heritage items?

Proposed work to heritage items of State significance that are on the State Heritage Register requires consent concurrently from both Heritage Council of NSW and Camden Council. This process is known as Integrated Development Assessment (IDA) under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. For more information on the approval process here.

Some minor work is exempted from requiring consent from the Heritage Council of NSW.

For further information or enquiries:

P: 02 9873 8500

E: heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au

W: www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/

Is there grant and/or funding available for heritage work?

Applications for grant and/or funding are available on an annual basis from Heritage NSW. These are for heritage items on State Heritage Register and for Aboriginal heritage investigations.

Council does not have a heritage grant and/or funding project.

For more information on grant and/or funding visit the Heritage NSW website.

How are new heritage nominations made?

Heritage is not static. New items and architectural styles emerge as having significance as time passes. If a place is not listed as a heritage or potential heritage item, and it appears to have some heritage value, the impact on heritage significance can still be considered by Council when assessing a development application under Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

To be eligible for listing as a heritage item, proposed items must fulfill one of the seven criteria established by Heritage NSW. This requires extensive research of the history and assessment of significance. It involves community consultation on what new places should be listed. New heritage places cannot be listed in a piecemeal method but are considered as a community based comprehensive heritage study.

As Council becomes aware of new potential items, a list is kept for consideration at the next comprehensive heritage study review. Please contact Council's Heritage Officer on ph. 4654 7777 to add items to this list for future consideration.

For further information on nominating an item for heritage listing, visit the Heritage NSW website.

Who are the Government agencies responsible for heritage?

Who may be able to provide further heritage related information?

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