FAQs

Listing is the way our heritage places are identified, managed and protected through the planning process. This helps look after the cultural heritage significance and the environmental, economic and social benefits of our heritage buildings for current and future generations. It’s not intended to stop all change – rather to help guide change. 

There is research demonstrating that caring for places of cultural heritage significance can generate environmental, economic and social benefits. This means that heritage can contribute to wider agendas such as health outcomes, education, the environment and urban planning. Some benefits include: 

• Heritage forms part of community identity and culture and creates a sense of place 
• Heritage educates people about the history and importance of places 
• Heritage may contribute towards social stability and cohesion in the community 
• There are economic benefits of heritage relating to individual places, the area as a whole and tourism 
• Retention of heritage buildings reduces energy usage associated with demolition, waste disposal and new construction 
• Retention of heritage buildings also promotes sustainable development by conserving existing embodied energy

We are undertaking this review to improve the way we make heritage planning decisions. The Local Heritage Survey (LHS) is an ongoing heritage survey of places of cultural heritage significance and continually needs updating as does the Heritage List and Heritage Areas.

The Local Heritage Survey (LHS) used to be called the Municipal Heritage Inventory (MHI). It is a database of heritage places in the City of Fremantle, which have been assessed for their aesthetic, historic, social or scientific value. It contains an invaluable collection of heritage information for more than 5000 places across the municipality, and is available on the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s website: inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au The LHS is for information purposes only. It does not have any legal implications for the development of land.

Under the City’s Local Planning Scheme 4, we are able to recognise individual properties of cultural heritage significance to Fremantle and worthy of conservation. The Heritage List is a list of places which are of cultural heritage significance attached our local planning scheme. The list only has the property address. It doesn’t include any other information.

Heritage areas are a collection of places with shared cultural heritage significance. Heritage areas are recognised in our local planning scheme and policies can be adopted for a heritage area to conserve and enhance the streetscape, key heritage features/elements and/or notable character etc. Declaring a heritage area provides some protection to the character and streetscape of that area – focused on its heritage values and significance. For example development proposals for places in heritage areas are assessed on the standard planning requirements and their impact on the heritage significance, streetscape and character of the area. Development that respects and is sympathetic to the heritage value of the area is supported by the City.

Places within heritage areas can be defined as either ‘contributory’ or ‘non-contributory’ to the significance of the area. Contributory places may include places which are not individually heritage listed. Contributory places are determined by Council having due regard to an assessment against the criteria of the Burra Charter and may include representative examples of a place type, period or style, places which contribute to the streetscape; and/or one which combines with other related places to demonstrate the historic development of a heritage area.

A place may be included in a Heritage Area AND individually listed on the Heritage List. A place may be included in a Heritage Area but? NOT individually listed on the Heritage List.

Currently where mapping of contributory places has not been undertaken for a Heritage Area, or has not been completed due to the inaccessibility of the site or the inability to fully reveal the existence of potentially fabric of cultural significance, this will be assessed as part of a planning application.

The assignment of level of contribution in a Heritage Area is providing a level of knowledge and certainty to property owners. For example if a property is NON-CONTRIBUTORY, demolition of that property can be undertaken (after the issuing of a demolition licence).

Yes Local Planning Policy (LPP) 3.6 is specifically for Heritage Areas. The Deemed Provisions of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 requires a local planning policy to be prepared for any heritage area adopted under a planning scheme.

A NON-CONTRIBUTORY place in a Heritage Area must still meet certain aspects of Local Planning Policy 3.6 Heritage Areas for example: Subdivision and Amalgamation, Change of Use and Infill Development.

Residents and property owners can contribute to this project by writing a submission regarding their property to Annabel Wills, Heritage Project Officer -email annabelw@fremantle.wa.gov.au or post to City of Fremantle, PO Box 807
Fremantle WA 6959 or drop in to Walyalup Civic Centre, 151 High Street, Fremantle.