Item 9.5 - Attachment 1 |
Heritage Advisory
Committee Minutes for 21 April 2010 |
REPORT OF THE HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN ROOM 3, GROUND FLOOR, COUNCIL CHAMBER BUILDING, CIVIC PLACE, PARRAMATTA ON WEDNESDAY, 21 APRIL 2010 AT 5:43 PM
PRESENT
Carol Liston in the Chair, June Brown, Shylie Brown, Peter Crittenden, Elaine Evans, Ruth Evans, Bill McGuirk, Anne Mathews and David Shakespeare (retired 7:00 pm).
IN ATTENDANCE
APOLOGIES
An apology was received and accepted for the absence of Bronwyn Alcorn, Michelle Desailly (Arts and Cultural Project Officer – Parramatta Stories) and Janice Huntington.
CONFLICT OF
INTEREST DECLARATIONS
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
WELCOME
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Peter Crittenden to the meeting.
MINUTES
19/10 Heritage
Advisory Committee Minutes – 17 February 2010
A copy of the Minutes of the Heritage Advisory Committee held on 17 February 2010 had previously been forwarded to each member.
RECOMMENDATION (S
Brown/B McGuirk)
That the minutes of the meeting of the
Heritage Advisory Committee held on 17 February 2010 be taken as read and
confirmed as a true record of the meeting.
BUSINESS
ARISING
20/10
Mr Shakespeare referred to Minute
No. 7/10 of the previous meeting and noted that the Historical Society would be
making
AGENDA
ITEMS
21/10 Feedback from Council
Mr Kennedy advised that the February minutes of the Heritage Advisory Committee had been noted by Council at its meeting on 22 March 2010.
In addition, the Council had requested that Councillors be provided with a report on the impact of the new DCP guidelines on heritage protection as compared to the existing arrangements.
RECOMMENDATION
That a copy of the additional report requested by Council be provided
to the Heritage Advisory Committee when completed.
22/10
In the absence of Ms Desailly, this matter was deferred to the next meeting of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
23/10 Comprehensive Heritage Review
Mr Kennedy provided an update on the Comprehensive Heritage Review and advised that staff had now visited properties in North Parramatta, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Epping, Carlingford, Rydalmere and Ermington, with properties in Granville, Guildford and South Granville being currenty visited and to be followed by the CBD and Harris Park. Properties were being visually inspected, particularly for condition and intactness and also compared to the original statements in the heritage inventories.
As investigations were only in the preliminary stage, it was too early to say whether there were any properties which should be recommended for addition or removal from the heritage lists, though initial assessments were encouraging and supported the retention of virtually all listings.
Mr Kennedy noted that there
appeared to have been the removal of a small number of heritage listed
properties in the
Mr Popovic had also commenced the preparation of revised statements of significance and physical description for each of the properties which was a large task.
Mr Kennedy then referred to the list of items that were identified as State Significance but which were not listed on the State Heritage Register. As part of the heritage review consideration will be given to which of these items should be recommended for inclusion on the State Heritage Register.
It was agreed that batches of 5 to 10 of such properties be emailed to members
at regular intervals to enable a response and the provision of background
information.
A general discussion then ensued
on the reserve in Toongabbie alongside
The Committee noted previous studies undertaken of the area (Ted Higginbottom, Michael Flynn, Simon Cook) and advised that relevant information would be provided to Mr Popovic.
24/10 Development
Applications – Update by Heritage Advisor
Mr Popovic provided details in relation to an application submitted in respect of the premises with a view to reintegrating 2 units on site into 1 dwelling. He had indicated at a pre-lodgement meeting that he would like to see, as a first step, the reinstatement of the windows and porch.
Mr Popovic further noted his
concerns in relation to the condition of the premises at
Ruth Evans noted the cost of holding a pre-lodgement meeting and questioned whether the fee could be waived for heritage sites.
Mr Popovic noted that the $300 fee was small compared to the costs of the proposed works. He added that applicants could talk to staff at the counter for free and could also utilise the Council’s free heritage advisory service.
42A
Mr Popovic advised that the subject site was in an area where single storey development only was permitted under the DCP. Unfortunately, the Affordable Housing SEPP permitted the construction of boarding houses.
Accordingly an application had been submitted for the construction of a boarding house that is of a substantial bulk and was out of character for the area.
Mr Popovic advised that he had requested timber inclusions and suggested that members may like to consider individual objections.
RECOMMENDATION
The Heritage Advisory Committee expresses concerns in relation to the
visual impact and character of this development, which is located in the
conservation area for
Mr Popovic indicated that the application related to the construction of units on the old Betty Cuthbert Nursery site and would require a masterplan.
Mr Kennedy noted that the application had been submitted under the current, rather than the proposed plan, and accordingly was permissible.
The Committee noted that this application was simply an example of progress and suggested the Committee’s attention would best be focussed on items of a significant heritage nature.
Mr Popovic advised an application had been received to demolish the subject heritage item. The item can only be demolished if it is not reasonable for it to be retained and as yet, the supporting documentation has not been supplied.
An application had also been received for the demolition of a heritage item at this location. A heritage report had been supplied but Mr Popovic was of the opinion that the report did not provide an acceptable argument for the demolition and he awaited, with interest, the provision of a structural engineers report.
Mr Popovic sought the Committee’s
opinion on an application received for the demolition of an existing house and
the construction of a dual occupancy in a special character rather than
heritage conservation area in
Mr Popovic invited any member that felt strongly about this application to lodge an individual objection.
RECOMMENDATION
That the broader principles of special character areas be discussed at
a future meeting of the Committee.
Mr Popovic had received strong representations from the owner of the subject premises in relation to the heritage listing of the premises. He noted that the house was an early example of a Housing Commission property and even if removed from the listing, the premises would remain in the conservation area.
Ms Liston referred to the need to educate the public in relation to the way that heritage enriches our future.
Note
Mr D Shakespeare retired from the meeting at 7.00 pm during discussion
of this matter.
Woolpack Hotel and James Elder Premises
Shylie Brown noted the recent development application submitted for the Woolpack Hotel and expressed concern in relation to its effect on the adjacent James Elder premises.
Mr Popovic advised that he would have regard to these concerns but noted that proposal was reasonable, except for the proposed signage which was not consistent with the area.
Mr Popovic further asked that he be provided with any relevant historical information pertaining to the site and advised that he would then carry out an inspection.
RECOMMENDATION
That the James Elder premises be considered for separate listing on the
State Heritage Register.
25/10 Local Heritage Fund Applications
Paul advised that 3 applications had been received for consideration at this meeting. He noted that should the applications be approved, this year’s allocation of funds would be exhausted. The applications are as follows:-
RECOMMENDATION (B McGuirk/J Brown)
That funds in the amount of $2000 be
granted.
2. 65 and 67 Victoria Road, Parramatta – render and brickwork repairs to front elevation of building, painting of external trim and interior painting to lobby and kitchen.
RECOMMENDATION (A Mathews/J Brown)
That funds in the amount of $1000 be
granted.
3.
RECOMMENDATION (S Brown/J Brown)
That funds in the amount of $2500 be
granted.
GENERAL
BUSINESS
26/10 Availability
of Objector’s Names on Council’s Website
Ruth Evans noted that certain residents were hesitant to object to applications as their names were then included on Council’s website.
Mr Popovic
responded that Council could hide details if requested.
27/10 Missing
Plaques
June Brown asked, on behalf of the President of the Parramatta District Historical Society (PDHS), if any person was aware of the location of the following 2 important plaques:-
1. The plaque commemorating the first
Sunday School in
2. The plaque for James Houison’s Bond House
in
Mr Kennedy advised that he would make appropriate enquiries.
28/10
Mr McGuirk noted that the old
Mr Kennedy responded that any purchase of a Section 149 certificate would have revealed this fact.
Elaine Evans noted that Council appeared to have won its court case in
regard to
Mr Popovic confirmed that Council had won and indicated that the applicant could now come back to Council with a new proposal.
Elaine Evans noted that an on site meeting had been scheduled for 1 May 2010 for the subject premises. Apparently a new proposal had been submitted which Ms Evans felt was not much of an improvement on the initial proposal and questioned the necessity of an on site meeting.
Mr Popovic advised that on site meetings were triggered once a certain number of objections had been received.
31/10 Preservation of Female Factory
Elaine Evans suggested that any action to preserve the Female Factory should be on a multi faceted front rather than just relying on the Local Member’s petition.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council be requested to establish whether there are any plans for
the conservation and restoration of the 3rd Class wing of the
Note
Mr
Popovic retired from the meeting at 7.26 pm.
32/10 Information Share
· Stargazing will be held at Parramatta Park on Saturday, 24 April 2010.
· Books on the history of Fairfield (Stephen Gapps), Liverpool (Carol Liston) and Experiment Farm have recently been published with a book on Baulkham Hills due out in June.
· Carol Liston will be an apology for the 16 June 2010 meeting.
The meeting terminated at 7.33 pm.