A Heritage Study is a report that is undertaken by a heritage consultant. It identifies, assesses and documents places of post-contact cultural significance.

A heritage study makes recommendations about how to conserve potential places of heritage significance. This includes the use of planning scheme tools such as the Heritage Overlay. Heritage studies are normally divided into two stages:

• Stage 1 of a heritage study compiles a comprehensive history of the study area. The Former Shire of Huntly Heritage Study Stage 1 was adopted by Council in August 2020.

Stage 1 of a heritage study also identifies places of potential cultural heritage significance. This means they are investigated further as part of the Stage 2 study.

• Stage 2 of a heritage study involves preparing detailed assessments of places that were identified as part of stage 1. This determines their heritage significance according to a set of recognised criteria. This makes recommendations for applying the Heritage Overlay to places found to be of local significance to the City of Greater Bendigo, or to places of State significance that are then also to be included on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The Heritage Overlay in the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme may require land owners to obtain a planning permit for works to the place.

It is important to note that the overlay does not prohibit development. The permit process means that significant features are appropriately managed and protected when changes to heritage places are proposed.

Under the Heritage Overlay a planning permit is generally required to:

• Demolish or remove a building
• Construct a building
• Externally alter a building
• Construct or display a sign
• In certain situations, externally paint a building, internally alter a building or to remove, prune or lop a tree
• Subdivide or consolidate land

The ‘Greater Bendigo Heritage Incorporated Plan – Permit Exemptions’ allows for permit exemptions from the provisions of the Heritage Overlay. This has been incorporated into the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

This plan reduces planning permit requirements for minor things such as small extensions, sheds and decks in the backyard.

If a Heritage Overlay is applied to your property, the City of Greater Bendigo offers grants to restore eligible heritage places through the Victorian Heritage Restoration Fund.

You can find out more by visiting the website below:

https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/community-services/grants-events-and-volunteers/heritage-restoration-fund

The City also provides a free heritage advisor service to give advice on your projects.

A Heritage Overlay can be applied to a site considered to be of individual significance, or to a precinct that contains multiple sites.

A Heritage Overlay that applies to a precinct will protect the heritage significance of an area that has a particular theme, for example a certain era of housing.

Most places in a precinct will have heritage significance but not all. Places in a heritage precinct are graded as either ‘significant’, ‘contributory’ or ‘non-contributory’:

• Significant heritage places are of state, or local cultural heritage significance that are individually important.
• Contributory heritage places contribute to the cultural heritage significance of a precinct, but they are not considered to be individually significant. When combined with other heritage places they play an integral role in demonstrating the heritage significance of a precinct.
• Non-contributory places have no cultural heritage significance but exist within a wider heritage precinct. These properties are included in a Heritage Overlay to ensure that any proposed future development is respectful and responsive to the heritage precinct.

What things will the City consider from your feedback?

Your feedback should focus on heritage-related issues relating to the heritage assessment criteria set out in the draft heritage citation, statement of significance, or the history of the heritage place. Relevant matters also include non-original alterations or additions that may affect the value of the heritage place and may not be included in the draft citation.

The City recognises that some places may have been impacted by flooding that has occurred since some of the draft citations were prepared, and therefore information about the condition of buildings is to be considered.

Feedback is done in writing and sent by email or mail to the City, or through the Let's Talk project page.

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback in finalising the heritage study and report the feedback and final heritage study to a future Council meeting. The final adopted report will then be available to the public.

Once the heritage study is adopted by Council, it will then be implemented by a planning scheme amendment to make the recommended changes to the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

This is to include a further round of engagement with the community through the exhibition process.

Further details about the amendment process can be found of the Department of Transport and Planning webpage:

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/schemes-and-amendments/amending-a-planning-scheme