Heritage grants now open

Community groups can now apply for funding to help protect important heritage places across Queensland.

Speaking at the National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards last night, Minister for Environment and the Arts Leeanne Enoch officially opened the next round of funding as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $18 million Community Sustainability Action Grants program.

“Since 2016, a total $2.7 million in funding has gone to 81 heritage conservation projects across the state,” Ms Enoch said.

“For this round, grants will be specifically given to projects that will conserve places listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.”

Chair of the Queensland Heritage Council, Ms Debbie Best, said there were some 1775 places listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

“They are located throughout Queensland and almost all would be eligible to apply for these grants,” Ms Best said.

Ms Enoch said that Queensland’s heritage buildings give communities a sense of place, connecting them through stories of the past.

“The Palaszczuk Government is investing in programs that are helping people restore and maintain heritage places,” Ms Enoch said.

"Seeing the amazing projects that received awards tonight shows that Queensland’s built heritage is unique and irreplaceable.

“The National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards are a celebration of our beautiful heritage and for more than 25 years, these awards have recognised best practice, innovation and achievement in Queensland’s heritage, awarding outstanding projects and people that demonstrate excellence in protection and conservation.”

National Trust of Australia (Queensland) President Dr Ian Galloway said the organisation was proud of its quarter-century involvement in organising and hosting the Queensland Heritage Awards.

“In a real sense this is Queensland heritage’s ‘night of nights’ where we celebrate the great work that’s been done to conserve and protect our special heritage places,” Dr Galloway said.

“We have had wonderful support for these awards, from our sponsors and from the Queensland Heritage Council, and the news that the next round of the Queensland Government’s heritage conservation grants has been launched augurs well for the future of heritage in this great state.

“I look forward to hearing about how these grants have been used to maintain, restore and conserve our heritage places, and perhaps having grant-funded projects appearing in future Queensland Heritage Awards.”

Ms Enoch said the next round of Heritage grants are open now and are due to close on 2 December 2019.

“I encourage the owners of heritage-listed places to apply for this support for their heritage projects,” Ms Enoch said.

Community Sustainability Action Grants program is providing $18 million over six years to support projects addressing climate change, wildlife protection, and the conservation of Queensland’s natural and built environment.

More information on the Community Sustainability Action Grants for Heritage Conservation and how to apply for them is available at www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/funding/community-sustainability.

Winners of the 2019 National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards were:

Adaptive Re-use Category:

• Silver - Howard Smith Wharves
• High Commendation - Sarina Field of Dreams Parklands.

Conservation Works Category:

• Gold - Stonework Conservation on the former Treasury Building
• Silver - Conservation of Iron Water Tanks and Stands at Normanton and Black Bull; Rockhampton City Hall - Reception Hall; and Wairuna Homestead Conservation Works
• High Commendation: Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct Shed Conservation and Restoration Project; Port Douglas Customs Shipping Flagstaff; Rosenthal Homestead Stage 1; and The Argentine Smelter Chimney.

Heritage Interpretation and Promotion Category:

• Gold - Home: a suburban obsession
• Silver - Bunya to the Bay; Fort Bribie Story Map project
• High Commendation - After the Storm; Enhancing Experience - Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct Interpretation and Promotion Project.

Heritage Landscape Category:

• High Commendation - The Common - West Village
• High Commendation - Holy Trinity Landscape Revitalisation.

Heritage Reports and Planning Category:

• Gold - Queensland's Timber Railway Passenger Stations Pre-WWII
• Silver - Kuranda Railway Station Conservation Management Plan
• High Commendation - Kidman's Mud Hut (Pise House Bedourie) Conservation Management Plan; Memorial Park Gympie Conservation Management and Implementation Plans.

Advocacy Volunteer Category:

• Gold - Ernest Junction Tunnel Friends
• Silver - Friends of Greenmount.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeanette Alfredson (posthumously awarded)

Rising Star Award: Nicholas McDougall

John Herbert Memorial Award: Home: A suburban obsession

Media contact: 0437 859 987