It is important that you let the City know if you are for or against the proposed inclusion of the property on the LHS (and potentially the state’s Heritage List).

The consultation period closes on July 27, 2025.

Your submission will be provided to Council before a decision on the inclusion of your property. There are three ways you can make a submission:

• You can email your submission directly at LocalAreaPlanning@swan.wa.gov.au

• You can submit via the submission form on this page

• You can drop off your hard copy submission form at the City’s administration centre at 2 Midland Square, Midland.

If you are against the inclusion of your property on the LHS please indicate your reasons in your submission.

Only properties included on the LHS or being nominated for the LHS have received notification of this submission period.

Our Local Area Planning Team will collate your submission and prepare the final draft document to be taken to Council for adoption. Council will be provided will all submissions before deciding further steps.

Please provide your request in writing to the City via the submission options above. Supporting information is required for your submission to be assessed.

If you provide a submission asking for the removal or changing of your draft place record, the City may make changes prior to the draft document being taken to Council. If you are requesting the removal or change of your place record we recommend providing as much supporting information as possible so we can accurately assess your request. Council will be provided with your submission prior to making the final determination on the inclusion of the property.

• Anyone can nominate any place in the City

• You do not need permission from the landowner to nominate a place

• Nominations are completely anonymous.

Any type of place can be nominated for the LHS except for Aboriginal historical sites. Examples include:

• archaeological remains

• buildings, structures, other built forms, and their surrounds

• equipment, furniture, fittings and other objects (whether fixed or not) that are historically or physically associated or connected with the land

• gardens and man-made parks or sites, and

• a tree or group of trees (whether planted or naturally occurring) in, or adjacent to, a man-made setting.

Identification of Aboriginal heritage is controlled by the State under different legislation. Places that only reference Aboriginal history are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. The purpose of this Act is to manage and protect sites of Aboriginal importance in WA.

The City has engaged an independent heritage consultant to assess the nominations.

Heritage significance means that a place has been identified as having cultural heritage significance that may warrant conservation and protection.

Places are considered under the factors relevant to cultural heritage significance as developed by the National Heritage Convention (HERCON) or Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, 2013 (Burra Charter criteria) and the following values:

• Historic value – it is significant in the evolution or pattern of the history of the locality

• Representative (social) value – it is significant through association with a prominent person, community or cultural group in the locality or region for social, cultural, educational, or spiritual reasons

• Scientific value – potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the history of the locality or region

• Aesthetic value – it is significant in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by the community

• Rarity – importance in demonstrating uncommon, rare, or endangered aspects of local heritage.

The Heritage List only includes Category One and Category Two places of cultural heritage significance recorded in the LHS. These places have automatic legal protection under the Local Planning Scheme and Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015. This means that there planning controls apply to the property and development approval is required for the demolition or modification of the place.

An LHS on the other hand is an information only-document and does not have any legal powers. It is a requirement under Part 8 of the Heritage Act 2018 that local governments prepare, maintain and review a local government survey of places in its district that are, or may become of cultural heritage significance.

There are four heritage management categories used for an LHS, each with different implications for the place. An information sheet is available for download from the document library, which explains these categories in more detail.

Category One - Essential to the heritage of the locality. All places included in heritage list.

Category Two - Rare or outstanding example. All places included in heritage list.

Category Three - Important to the heritage of the locality, but below the threshold for the heritage list.

Category four - Contributes to the heritage of the locality, but the threshold for the heritage list.

If your proposed category listed on your place record is a Category Five, this means that your property is proposed to be removed from the current LHS.

The inclusion of a place on the LHS as a Category Three or Four does not prevent future modification or development. Any proposed developments or modifications are to follow the normal process as per the City's Local Planning Scheme No. 17.

The inclusion of a place on the Heritage List (Category One or Category Two on the LHS) does not prevent essential future modification or development to ensure its upkeep. However, further information to justify the works may be required to ensure they will not detrimentally impact the place’s heritage significance and to demonstrate how these works will align with the heritage values of the site.

The proposed demolition of any place on the Heritage List (category one or two on the LHS) requires development approval and will be assessed under the City’s Local Planning Scheme No.17 and relevant planning policies that guide the development of a place of heritage significance. Should demolition be approved, the City will retain a public record of all places removed from the Heritage List and the reason for removal on its website in addition to an appendix within the Local Heritage Survey.

Category three and four properties may be considered for demolition. You will need to apply through the standard demolition permit process. The application will be assessed on its merits, taking into account the relevant requirements.

The City has several incentives for people who retain heritage places, which include:

• Rate concession; and

• Development incentives.

Residential Heritage Rate Concession

A 50 per cent residential rate concession is available for properties on the City’s Heritage List (Category One or Category Two), upon eligibility criteria being met and depending on the City of Swan’s budget. Building insurance and pest control certificates must be provided as part of the application for the rate concession.

The value of the rate concession will be adjusted if the owner is already receiving another type of concession. This will mainly apply to seniors and people receiving a pension.

For more information about eligibility and how to apply, please visit:

www.swan.wa.gov.au/services-and-community/...

Development incentives

Under the City’s Local Planning Scheme No.17, the Council may, to conserve or enhance the place, give a special approval, benefit, allowance, or incentive, including but not limited to, the granting of density bonuses and the transfer from a place of cultural heritage significance or a conservation precinct to another place within the district of unused development rights.

The value of a property can be influenced by numerous factors such as market conditions, property size, property maintenance conditions, property location, local amenities, public transport availability and heritage classification to name a few.