Human Resources in Canada's Built Heritage Sector: Mapping the ...

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MAPPING THE WORK FORCE AND SETTING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES7. Regulation of Built Heritagein AustraliaOverview of Heritage RegulationAt the national level, Australia’s system of heritage regulation was recently updated by adoption of theEnvironmental and Heritage Amendment Act (1999) and the Australian Heritage Council Act (2003).The EHA establishes a National Heritage List and a Commonwealth Heritage List. The latter comprisesheritage assets owned by the Commonwealth (i.e., federal) government. The former comprises heritageproperties owned privately. Inclusion on these lists is administered by the Australian Heritage Council.The Act also provides for a nomination system. Inclusion on the Lists confers protection under theEnvironmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.Heritage properties that are placed on the National Heritage List are described in terms of specific heritagevalues. The owners of these assets must protect these heritage values in any subsequent work done on theheritage properties. It is the heritage values that are protected, not the properties per se. Applying this distinctionis the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and Heritage. If the Department determines thata proposed modification may have an adverse impact on heritage values, an assessment must be undertaken.Based on this assessment the Department will grant or withhold approval or grant a modified approval. Theowners of properties included in the National Heritage List must also file a “management plan” that protectsthe heritage values of a listed property. This plan is also subject to approval. The purpose of this provision isto prevent ‘running down’ of heritage assets by neglect and thereby leaving little option but to approvedemolition or radical modification. The merging of heritage protection and environmental protection is distinctlyIn many respects, Australia has applied the environmental protection paradigm to heritage protection.There are also separate state-level systems of heritage protection.As of 2004, at the national level, Australia provides support through the tax system to private owners ofheritage properties. However, similar to policy in the UK, owners of heritage properties do receive incometax deductions for donating their properties to the “national trust.” An inter-governmental body, theEnvironmental Protection and Heritage Council recommended in 2004 a system of tax credits, accelerateddepreciation allowances, and other measures to assist private owners of heritage properties. 15 At the state level,some states provide for a re-evaluation of a heritage property based on actual use, rather than bestmarket use. This results in a lower assessment for property tax purposes. A 20% tax rebate scheme operatedat the Commonwealth level from 1994 to 1999, but was discontinued owing to lack of success and a generalpolicy disinclination to use “tax expenditures” rather than direct expenditures. The Commonwealth governmentdoes operate a Cultural Heritage Projects Program which provides grants for approved restoration projects. Totalgrants under various Commonwealth programs were about A$3.6 million in recurrent grants in 2001-02 andA$75 million in non-recurrent grants. State-level grant programs provided approximately A$11 million.Municipalities also administer modest grant and loan programs.15 Environmental Protection and Heritage Council, Making Heritage Happen, Report of the National Incentives TaskForce (April 2004) http://www.ephc.gov.au/pdf/EPHC/Summary_Making%20Heritage%20Happen.pdf The documentcontains a useful survey of policies in several other OECD countries as well as a synopsis of Australian policies.©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL37
HUMAN RESOURCES IN CANADA’S BUILT HERITAGE SECTORRegulation of ProfessionalsArchitects:The Royal Architectural Institute of Australia (RAIA) functions as the professional body at the nationallevel for practising architects. Certification is administered at the state level by “registration boards.” Thereis no specialist designation for “heritage architects” or “conservation architects.” Nor do official rosters ofarchitects identify heritage practices. However, the term “heritage architect” is widely used in positiondescriptions and in public documents, including immigration qualifications.Although the architectural profession has no specialist designation for “heritage architects,” in 2003, theRAIA adopted a Heritage Policy. This policy references the ICOMOS Burra Charter as a guiding documentin heritage preservation.Conservators:The Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials confers a professional accreditationHowever a 2004 internal study revealed a low take-up rate for accreditation. 16 The AICCM requires itsmembers to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Guidance of Conservation Practice. The AICCM maintains asearchable roster of its members. There are approximately 200 listings on the roster.The New South Wales state government publishes a roster of professionals in all relevant heritage occupations.The roster indicates that inclusion does not imply endorsement of qualifications. Criteria for inclusion in theNSW consultants roster are:• Evidence of training in heritage leading to a clear understanding of the current approach to heritageconservation, including the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter.• Completion of at least one conservation management plan for a heritage site in line with JamesKerr’s methodology in The Conservation Plan, A Guide to the Preparation of Conservation Plans forPlaces of European Cultural Significance.• Heritage project experience.There is also a statement that “preliminary work is underway in regard to an accreditation system for heritageprofessionals.” No further information could be obtained on these plans.Regulation of Trades (New South Wales):“The introduction of modern materials, such as concrete, and industrialized building systems, such asprefabricated or component-based assembly, has resulted in a radical shift in the building and constructionindustry… There is a crisis in the sector of the industry involved in the repair and maintenance oftraditional buildings. Irreparable damage continues to be done to our irreplaceable heritage assetsthrough the introductions of new materials and poor skills in conservation. ” [Emphasis added.]Heritage Trade Training Strategy, 2000-2005, Government of New South WalesRegulation of trades is administered at the state level. However, there is a general effort to achieve nationalcompatibility of competency standards. At the national level, 45 heritage competency standards have beendeveloped. These competency standards will become part of the Building and Construction TrainingPackage. Apprenticeships and trade designations in construction are tied to the competency standards set outin the Building and Construction Training Package.16 Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials, Professional Membership and Accreditation Review (2004)http://www.aiccm.org.au/pdfs/accreditation.pdf38©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL
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