OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND CURTILAGE HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008–2013

8. Assessment Process
Part C – Implementation Tools
96 Old Parliament House and Curtilage Heritage Management Plan 2008–2013
8. Action assessment process
Background
The action assessment process has been derived from
consideration of the:
■■core principles
■■mapped heritage values
■■zones
■■policies
■■room/area historical research; and
■■room/area physical description and condition data.
The action assessment process is designed to fulfil the
requirements of:
■■Schedule 5A Management Plans for National
Heritage Places Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Regulations
2003 (No 1) and Schedule 7A Management Plans
for Commonwealth Heritage Places Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Amendment Regulations 2003
(No 1) informed by the policies
and the Burra Charter
■■and for external proposed actions:
■■Section 12(1)(b) of the Australian
Capital Territory (Planning and
Land Management) Act 1988
■■Appendix T6 Parliamentary Zone Master
Plan of the National Capital Plan; and
■■The Parliament Act 1974.
This process will capture all relevant proposed actions
in and on Old Parliament House and provide a robust,
transparent process for planning and decision making.
How to use the action assessment process
The action assessment process is constructed around
the zones and policies that provide relevant information
on the place. The steps to follow when proposing an
action are outlined below and in the flowchart in the
Action Proposal Form.
Actions include activities, projects, developments and
undertakings that will occur on or in Old Parliament
House and are more fully defined in the Glossary
(Appendix L). The Implementation Plan
(Part C Chapter II) is a list of tasks that are derived
directly to enact the policies (Chapter 5). While
the Implementation Plan may be a starting point
from which action proposals begin it is no way
comprehensive and does not capture many of the
events undertaken in the operation of Old Parliament
House.
The action assessment process begins with the
identification of a proposed action and location.
The next step involves reference to the Heritage
Management Plan to determine the zone in which the
proposed action will take place – this can be done
either via the desktop interactive (see Chapter 7) or via
the hardcopy plan. The determination of the zone will
give an overview of the values and appropriate activities
of the space.
From the zones, a check of the permitted actions
schedules (Part C) will allow the responsible party to
determine whether the action is allowed – following the
guidelines of the schedule – or if the action will require
assessment by the Actions Committee.
If the action is not specified in the permitted action
schedules for that zone, the action will need to be
assessed and approved by the actions committee
before it can proceed. To do this, the Action Proposal
Form must be completed and submitted to the
committee. The committee will make an assessment
and either: allow the action; allow the action with
modifications; not allow the action; recommend to
delegate; or refer the action to the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. A referral
to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and
the Arts is necessary for actions that are likely to have a
significant adverse impact on the heritage values of the
place.
Members’ meals were cooked in the enormous kitchen equipped with ranks of stoves
and sinks. The Bain Marie in the foreground remains in the kitchen today.
Photographer: William Mildenhall
Source: Mildenhall Collection 3535, National Archives of Australia