Heritage Item Planning Proposal 2025

Update to Schedule 5 – Environmental Heritage

At the Ordinary Council meeting on 15 October 2025, Council resolved to proceed to prepare and lodge a Planning Proposal to update Schedule 5 of the Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan 2014 to:

a) Update the legal descriptions of 71 existing items (e.g. Addresses, Lot and DP numbers, correcting the spelling of item names etc.)

b) Update the mapping of 14 existing local items, including the removal of 2 items that have been destroyed

c) Add 28 new items of heritage significance

The Planning Proposal was lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and Gateway Determination was received on 23 January 2026. The Gateway Determination and report can be found in the Documents Library.

A condition of the Gateway Determination was to, prior to public exhibition, amend the Planning Proposal in accordance with Appendix 1 of the Gateway Determination Report to ensure accuracy of the proposed changes to the heritage items and include further justification where required.

Council amended the Planning Proposal and submitted the changes to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in July 2026. Council is currently awaiting confirmation from the Minister under s3.34(6) of the Environmental Planning And Assessment Act 1979 that the updated Planning Proposal has been reviewed and approved for public exhibition.

If you would like to find out more about the Planning Proposal, please navigate to the Document Library.

Why is Council proposing this update?

The adopted Bathurst Region Community Heritage Plan (2025-2029) includes actions in relation to the region’s heritage:

Action 2.1.2 - Continue to research and record information in relation to the Bathurst Region Heritage assets and update the State Heritage Inventory database.

Action 2.1.3 - Undertake regular review of the Local Environmental Plan in relation to listed heritage items and heritage conservation areas and heritage provisions to manage, protect and enhance our heritage buildings, streetscapes, vistas, natural environments and objects.

To support these actions Council staff have:

1. undertaken a review of the existing heritage items under schedule 5 of the Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan (LEP) to ensure that the current listing (legal description and mapping) is up to date; and
2. developed a database of additional sites that should be considered for listing under schedule 5 of the LEP that have been identified as being of heritage significance through site visits with Council’s Heritage Advisor, use of Bathurst Conservation Area Management System (BCAMS) mapping and information provided from landowners or members of the public.

What does it mean for a property to be listed as a heritage item?

Formally listing a site of local significance enables the site to be included in Schedule 5 of the Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan 2014 and therefore be managed as a heritage item under that legislation.

Moreover it allows for greater protection and conservation of the site into the future.

What are some of the benefits of a heritage item listing?

Development

Clause 5.10 – Heritage Conservation applies to heritage items and sites within the Heritage Conservation Area. The application of this clause enables minor works to occur without development consent provided that Council is notified, such as roof replacements or external painting. The clause can also enable the adaptive reuse of a heritage item for a purpose that would otherwise not be permissible in the site’s zone.

Grant support

Council’s Local Heritage Grant program currently provides up to $5,000 on a dollar for dollar basis toward conservation projects that relate to heritage items. This program incentivises property owners to seek to conserve their heritage properties with financial support from Council for certain eligible projects.

Grant support can also be provided toward interpretation initiatives that seek to reveal historical information about sites to the public. These projects could be signs, artworks, books, brochures, cataloguing and the like aimed at sharing and promoting the history of the item in a public manner.

Expert advice

Council operates a Heritage Advisory program by engaging with an external Heritage Advisor with qualifications in heritage conservation and architecture. Free advice can be provided on:

• methods of conservation, such as best remediation of deteriorating material
• period correct colour schemes
• appropriateness of minor works, such as roof replacements
• design advice for additions and new buildings on the site
• interpretation guidance and support

The program currently runs on a once-monthly basis, on the Friday of the first full week of each month. Appointments are required and can be made by calling Senior Heritage Planner Tamsin McIntosh on 6333 6272.

Recognition

Listings enable the protection and appropriate management of significant places into the future. They highlight to the community the heritage values of a place and can promote heritage tourism.

Stages of a Planning Proposal

The table below outlines the 6 key stages of a Planning Proposal that have or will be undertaken as the Planning Proposals progress. Further information about the process to amend a Local Environmental Plan are available at the Department of Planning’s Local Plan Making Guidelines:

https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/lep-making-guideline.pdf

Council's Community Participation Plan guides how Council will exhibit the Planning Proposals:

https://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/2/council/plans-policies/bathurst-regional-community-participation-plan-am-3.pdf

These documents are available in the document library.