Bathurst Region Community Heritage Plan

As part of Council’s ongoing commitment to the region’s heritage and to meet its obligations to Heritage NSW, Council has drafted the next Bathurst Region Community Heritage Plan 2025-2029 (the Community Heritage Plan). The Heritage Plan aims to guide heritage management within the Bathurst Region and establishes the key objectives and associated actions for heritage management over the next 4 years.

The Community Heritage Plan responds to the Planning Priorities contained in the Bathurst Local Strategic Planning Statement and the objectives of the Bathurst Community Strategic Plan. It provides the detail as to how Council and the community will protect, enhance and promote our heritage – buildings and places, the natural environment, diverse people and projects and their embedded stories.

The Plan was adopted by Council at its Ordinary Meeting on 16 July 2025.

The three main objectives that underpin the Community Heritage Plan are to:

1 – Appreciate and share heritage

2 – Manage change

3 – Activate heritage

View the full list of actions that respond to the three objectives in the Bathurst Region Community Heritage Plan 2025-2029 available in the Document Library.

Why do we have a Community Heritage Plan?

By definition, the Community Heritage Plan is a coordination of the efforts of both Council and the community and guides how we can all take action to protect and promote heritage.

The Community Heritage Plan 2025-2029 and its actions have been informed by engagement with the Bathurst Regional community undertaken in 2024 and 2025. To view all reports in relation to community consultation that occured, navigate to the Document Library.

What are Council's priorities?

Across the lifetime of the Plan, Council's Strategic Planning section will prioritise the following actions:

Council’s Priority

Relevant Actions

Resource/Funding

Support appropriate planning and development decision making that gives appropriate weight to heritage values.

2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.2.1, 2.2.3, 2.2.7, 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.3, 3.3.4.

Employment of appropriately trained planning staff.
Engagement of external heritage advisory consultant.
Heritage assistance funding – small grants to community and private property owners.
Funding for local heritage projects and studies.

Support the community to undertake projects and programs that protect and promote the region’s rich heritage.

Completion of local heritage projects and studies.

1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.2.4, 1.3.1, 1.3.3, 2.2.10, 3.4.2.

1.2.1, 2.2.5, 2.2.6, 2.2.8, 2.3.3.

What are the Community's priorities?

The Community Heritage Plan nominates opportunities for where members of the community can contribute to the protection and promotion of heritage in the region. Each community heritage group and individual has their own agenda and capacity to deliver on the identified actions. Council will continue to support community heritage groups and individuals to achieve their goals.

How will the actions that have been taken be reported?

The Implementation Plan documents movements taken toward achieving the actions in the Community Heritage Plan over a period of 6 months, with the aim to provide updates every December and June.

To participate in the reporting process, community heritage groups and individuals must be part of the Heritage Reference email group. If you are part of a community heritage group or an individual that is not in the Heritage Reference email group, please request to speak to Senior Heritage Planner Tamsin McIntosh on 6333 6272.

Only the actions that have been reported will be included in the Implementation Plan with the acknowledgement that community members and other non-participating departments in Council contribute to the protection and promotion of the region's heritage outside of documented reporting.

How else can I keep up to date with what heritage actions are being taken?

The best way would be to follow Council’s social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and follow the social media pages of community heritage groups, sign up to their newsletters, attend community heritage group meetings and view updates to this page.

You can also subscribe to this page which will enable updates to be sent to your email directly.

Council may, from time to time, insert news or reminders of heritage services in its Ratepayer’s newsletter and monthly newsletter. To sign up to receive the monthly newsletter, please click here.