GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE APPLIED BY ALL GOVERNMENTS RE PUBLIC LANDS

'To ensure that significant public lands remain in public ownership and control, properly protected, conserved and managed, for the benefit of present and future generations'

1. A National Register

(a) A National Register to be developed and maintained of all lands publicly owned by Governments (including local governments), and their agencies (departments, authorities and bodies).

(b) A State Register to contain State and local government public lands, information on that register to be placed on the National Register.

(c) By agreement, Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage to hold and maintain the National Register.

(d) The National and State Registers to be publicly available.

(e) Each item of public land to contain an assessment of significance.

2. Proper Assessment of Significance

(a) Each item of public land to be assessed (Statement of Significance).

(b) Identified and uniform criteria to be used.

(c) PPL Assessment of Significance to be adopted to determine whether public land is significant.

(d) Public participation in the process.

(e) Independent expert body to carry out assessment, to include, but not limited to, the National Trust of Australia, key environmental groups, the Australian Heritage Commission and Heritage offices in each State and Territory.

3. Public Ownership and Control

(a) Significant public land to remain in public ownership and control, to be held on trust for the people.

(b) Public uses to accord with the assessed significance of the land.

(c) Proper protection, conservation and management.

4. Notification of Change of Use

(a) Public land that is surplus to requirements or involves a change of use to be notified on the National Register, and to be notified to Governments and to the public.

(b) Full and proper public participation in determining agreed public uses for significant public land.

5. Protective Legislation

The principles set out above to be incorporated into appropriate State and Commonwealth legislation.