A property is a heritage item if it is:

• Listed in Schedule 5 of the Camden LEP 2010 or shown on the Heritage Conservation Maps of the LEP.
• Listed under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006 as follows:     
• Appendix 1 Oran Park and Turner Road  Precinct Plan - Schedule 5 Environmental Heritage
• Appendix 9 Camden Growth Centres Precinct Plan - Schedule 5 Environmental Heritage
• Listed on the State Heritage Register (under the Heritage Act, 1977). 
• Listed on a World, National and/or Commonwealth Heritage list on the Department of Environment and Energy's website.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

• Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
• Connecting with Country Framework
• Search Aboriginal Places & State Heritage Register
• Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) - The Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) is a database that includes information on tens of thousands of recorded sites and objects, along with archaeo­logical and other Aboriginal heritage reports.
• Guide to Investigating, Assessing, and Reporting on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
• Contact Heritage NSW (See Question 12)
• Contact the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council (See Question 12)
• Reporting destruction of Aboriginal artefacts or sites: If the act is still in progress, call the police: 000.
• Find your local police
• If not, contact Heritage NSW at any time. - By phone: (02) 9873 8500 - By email: heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
• Note any details: - Location of the site, - What was damaged, - Details of the destruction, - Any photos or video footage, - If you witnessed anyone causing the damage, descriptions and any details of the people involved (height, weight, age, clothing, identifying features).

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.

• The Burra Charter – The Burra Charter provides guidance for the conservation and management of places of cultural significance (cultural heritage places), and is based on the knowledge and experience of Australia ICOMOS members.
• The following document from Heritage NSW also provides guidelines for heritage related development:
• Local Government Heritage Guidelines
• Design Guide For Heritage
• Guidelines for infill development in the historic environment
• Guidelines for the Adaptation of heritage buildings and sites
• How to carry out work on heritage buildings and sites

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.

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/

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.

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.

• Camden Council 70 Central Avenue, Oran Park 2570 P: 02 4654 7777 E: mail@camden.nsw.gov.au
• Heritage NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet Level 6, 10 Valentine Avenue, Parramatta, 2150 P: 02 9873 8500 E: heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au W: www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/
• Other Useful Links