STATE AIMS TO PROTECT HERITAGE PLACES WITH $2.7 MILLION PROJECT

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr today announced the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) $2.7 million heritage survey would identify Queensland’s heritage places before they were lost to development.

Ms Nelson-Carr said Queensland’s rapid population growth and the associated demand for new infrastructure underlined the need for more strategic heritage planning – and sooner rather than later.

“The state-wide survey is an important project in which the state’s key historic places will be recognised and listed in the Queensland Heritage Register for their protection.”

With a pilot study in the Mackay-Whitsunday region nearly finished and half a dozen new heritage staff, other parts of the state soon would be surveyed.

“Queensland has been divided into 17 parts for the project and these will be progressively surveyed over the next three years.

“With Queensland’s 150th celebrations only a couple of years away, it’s an excellent time to draw attention to the role our heritage plays in shaping us as a society.

“Queensland has come a long way since heritage legislation was first introduced in 1992 as a response to the public outcry over the midnight demolition of Brisbane’s iconic Cloudland Ballroom.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said one of the problems with heritage legislation was that it was too reactive, with places often being considered after they had been threatened by development.

“Amendments to the Heritage Act are being prepared and recent initiatives clearly show we are prepared to back up our talk with financial commitment.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said since early 2006 the Beattie Government had committed more than $10 million to adopt a more systematic and proactive approach which would ensure the state’s key heritage places were better protected.

“Together with the recently announced $5 million Living Buildings and Places program and the $5 million Markers and Monuments program, no government in this state’s history has allocated more resources to preserving our heritage for future generations.”

Ms Nelson-Carr also urged people to contact the Cultural Heritage Branch in their region about the special places in their communities.

In south Queensland, phone 3227 6499, in the central region, phone 4936 0577, and in the north phone 4046 6694.

Media contact: Andie Gatti 3336 8002