OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND CURTILAGE HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008–2013

G. Summary of Consultation Phases
Part D – Appendices
Old Parliament House and Curtilage Heritage Management Plan 2008–2013
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G. Summary of consultation phases
Background
In accordance with Section 324S of the EPBC Act, the Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the
Arts is responsible for making a management plan for Old Parliament House and Curtilage, as a listed National
Heritage place, and seek comments from the public and the Australian Heritage Council before finalising the plan.
As Old Parliament House and Curtilage is also on the Commonwealth Heritage List, under Section 341S it
is DEWHA’s responsibility (at that time) to make and seek public comments on a draft management plan.
The former Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts prepared a
single plan to cover both the Commonwealth and National Heritage List obligations.
Prior to the formal submission to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, an
exposure draft was prepared for informal public consultation in November 2006 in accordance with s.
341S(6) for Commonwealth Heritage Listed places. The methodology and analysis of this process is
outlined below. Comments from thisprocess have assisted in the development of the final draft.
Upon submission of the final draft, the formal statutory public comments process will be undertaken in
accordance with s.324S(6).
Method
- Two Old Parliament House staff meetings
- Two volunteer meetings
- Pre-informal consultation notice to DCITA executive and the Minister for Arts and Sport
- Promotion including:
1. promotional flyers distributed in-house and to stakeholders, tenants and
public incorporating information on the consultation and a comments section
2. advertisement in The Canberra, Times 4 November 2006, and The Australian,
11 November 2006
3. promotional banners in King’s Hall; and
4. direct contact with associated organisations for posting information on their websites
5. posting on the Old Parliament House website with the details of the consultation
phase, and PDF of the Heritage Management Plan and National Nomination
document for downloading including a dedicated email address available for responses.
- Two public meetings: Saturday 11 and Wednesday 22 November 2006.
- Direct contact with stakeholders. Forty-nine general stakeholders and 77 key stakeholder contacts were made
via letter initially. Key stakeholder letters were followed up by delivery of a hard copy and compact disc of
the Heritage Management Plan and contacted by phone to see if they wished to meet personally with
management to discuss the Heritage Management Plan.
- A stall in King’s Hall was set up and staffed seven days a week between 10am–12pm and 2–3pm daily.
Public had access to hard and electronic copies of the Exposure Draft Heritage Management Plan, the interactive
and comments slips.
- A computer was made available in the volunteers lounge to facilitate their familiarity and response to the plan.