Heritage

What is a Local Heritage Survey?

The Local Heritage Survey (formerly local heritage inventories or municipal inventories) identify and record places that are, or that might become, of cultural heritage significance.

The Local Heritage Survey is a register that recognises the importance of heritage places to the local community, and provides a record of the places and location, that are an important part of the history of the area.

Under the Heritage Act 2018, place means ‘a defined or readily identifiable area of land and may include any of the following things that are in, on or over the land –

  1. Archaeological remains;
  2. Buildings, structures, other build forms, and their surrounds;
  3. Equipment, furniture, fittings and other objects (whether fixed or not that are historically or physically associated or connected with the land;
  4. Gardens and man-made parks or sites; and
  5. A tree or group of trees (whether planted or naturally occurring) in, or adjacent to, a man-made setting.

All local governments are required to compile a Local Heritage Survey under the Heritage of WA Act 2018.

The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Local Heritage Survey was approved by Council on 19 September 2022.  This followed on from a consultation process with the community to invite nominations for new places that was initiated in February 2021.   In December 2021 Council endorsed the Draft Local Heritage Survey for the purposes of community consultation that involved all owners of the proposed heritage places.  The Council resolution where the Local Heritage Survey was approved is available here.

View the Local Heritage Survey

Heritage List

Local government has a pivotal role to play in heritage conservation management.  As the decision-maker  local government is required to refer the most important heritage places to the Heritage Council, as required under the Heritage Act 2018, and any determination on places of significant heritage should be consistent with advice received.

This protection is required by the Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015 and largely enacted through a local government’s local planning scheme.

The Local Heritage Survey classifies places of heritage importance into four categories 1-4 with Management category 1 being the most important and management category 4 being the least significant.  Management categories recognise the different levels of integrity of heritage places and provide recommendations as to the kind of care and level of protection that should be given to the places.

To ensure that the requirements of the Heritage Act, Planning & Development Regulations are complied with, places classified in Management categories 1 and 2 are placed on the Heritage List and included in the Local planning scheme. These places are afforded the maximum protection the local government can provide.

What Is InHerit?

InHerit is a State Government database that bring together information about heritage places and listings in Western Australia, inHerit contains comprehensive information about cultural heritage places listed in the State Register of Heritage Places, local government inventories and other lists, the Australia Government’s heritage list, and other non-government lists and surveys.

Heritage – Indigenous First Australians

Aboriginal sites are of immense cultural, scientific, educational and historic interest and provide Aboriginal people with an important link to their present and past culture.

Information about the people who lived here for the last 45,000 years can only be obtained through the archaeological investigation of these sites.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is responsible for protecting Aboriginal heritage, assisting with compliance with the Act and providing access to heritage information.

Do I need an Aboriginal heritage survey?

The State Cultural Heritage Due Diligence Guidelines assist prospective developers in assessing the risk that proposed development may have on impacting Aboriginal heritage values and whether or not they need to obtain consent under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

If you are considering undertaking an Aboriginal heritage survey, it is recommended that you first contact the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to discuss your circumstances.

Aboriginal heritage inquiry system

The Department of Planning Lands and Heritage website contains a link to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and The Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System (AHIS) which provides information concerning Aboriginal heritage places in Western Australia. 

Click here to launch the Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System

For further information, please contact Strategic Planning Services on 9526 1111 or by email info@sjshire.wa.gov.au.