Marking time in November 2013
Developing heritage places
I was delighted to hear that the recently published guideline Developing heritage places: using the development criteria has received a commendation from the Planning Institute of Australia. This is what the award judges wrote about the document:
The ‘Developing Heritages Places’ document is a clear and rigorous checklist of assessment criteria and considerations for stakeholders involved in site-specific development proposals relating to a Queensland heritage place.
The checklist is supported by more detailed case studies and recommended (as opposed to required) actions to inform the development of proposals, preparation of better development applications and prelodgement meetings with assessment authorities.
The document is well presented, and as a result, will be accessible to multiple stakeholders. The judges were particularly impressed by the inclusion of photographs of example cases studies, the comprehensiveness of the checklist from scoping through to construction and the ‘road-testing’ of the checklist undertaken by the Department with local government.
‘Developing Heritage Places’ has been endorsed by the Queensland Heritage Council and the judges believe represent a model to be implemented in other jurisdictions moving forward
I feel a glow from this award since, with my fellow Queensland Heritage Councillors Chris Buckley and Howard Guille, I had a hand in shaping this document, working with Gail Pini and her colleagues in the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.
The Illustrated Burra Charter: how to buy it online
The Illustrated Burra Charter: good practice for heritage places has been widely accepted, often cited, and sometimes commended. But, sadly, the book has never been widely promoted or distributed.
It is hard to find a copy for sale in a bookshop or on the web. I have had quite a few enquiries from people who wanted to buy one, but who couldn’t find a convenient source. In the past I have sent those people to the Australia ICOMOS website, where the online ordering process is a reminder of life before amazon.com.
I am very pleased to see that the Australian Council of National Trusts has set up an online shop which offers the Illustrated Burra Charter. At last, you can order the book online, pay with a credit card, and have the book delivered by mail.
Postscript, 11 November 2013: Fishpond and United Campus Bookshops offer the book too.