State of the Heritage Report
The following checklist can be completed by local government authorities to ensure that their Council has submitted complete and up to date information for incorporation into the National Trust's 'State of the Heritage Report'.

Please complete the checklist with examples and return to the National Trust of Australia (NSW), GPO Box 518, Sydney 2001.

Local Government Authority: BANKSTOWN CITY COUNCIL

Research and Investigation
1. Has a Heritage Study been undertaken and completed in your LGA?
  Yes - 1998 Bankstown Heritage Study by Terry Kass and Meredith Walker  
2. If so when was the Study completed? Has it been revised?
  Original completed 1988. Reviewed 1998 by then Heritage Advisor. After the completion of the original Heritage Study in 1988, the then Heritage Advisor reviewed the study in 1998 and also did a ‘windscreen survey’ of the LGA. Council is currently undertaking a community-based heritage study in the suburb of Condell Park. Following the completion of the study and the results, community- based heritage studies will be carried out on a suburb by suburb basis throughout Bankstown LGA.  
 

Tourism and Promotion
3. Does Council actively pursue cultural tourism in its area?
  No  
4. Has Council established specific heritage initiatives such as a
    'heritage trail', design guidelines & workshops?
 

Yes

  • The historic plaques programme commenced 1999/2000 with installation of five plaques at sites of heritage significance around Bankstown LGA. The plaques are located:
    • at the site of the first and only eviction battle fought in Bankstown during the Great Depression between activists and police;
    • within the War Service Homes Commission estate in Vimy Street, Bankstown;
    • Bankstown Railway Station;
    • Bankstown Council Chambers;
    • the site of the home of the first Mayor of Bankstown, Hume Highway, Yagoona.

This programme will continue on an annual basis. A guide book for the plaques will be developed in 2001/2002.

  • Bankstown City Plaza Facades Refurbishment Project commenced 1999/2000 with a grant from the NSW Heritage Office and the financial support of the Council. The project offers funding on a dollar for dollar basis to property owners of historic buildings in Bankstown City Plaza to refurbish the building facades under expert supervision. The project has succeeded in refurbishing four facades in 1999/2000 and will continue into 2001/2002.
  • Bankstown Heritage Fund — please see section further on in the questionnaire
  • Marking the grave of the first Mayor of Bankstown, Joseph James Cooper, in Rookwood Cemetery. This was done in partnership with Metropolitan Funeral Homes and Labor Funerals.
  • Provision of space for the Bankstown Historical Society to meet and also to store their collection in the Bankstown Central Library. Previously the Society has stored their collection in a shipping container in a Council depot. The Heritage Committee also bought a computer for the Society to record their collection electronically and enable them to make their collection available to the general public. The computer is also stored at the library.
  
 

Support
5. Does Council operate or support the operation of a facility to allow
     recycling of fabric from demolished buildings?
 

No

  
6. Does Council operate or provide assistance to operate a
     local history research facility for local residents use?
  Council operates the Local Studies Section in the Bankstown Central Library and employs a full time Local Studies Librarian.  
7. Does Council operate or provide financial assistance, or in kind support,
     for the operation of a local history museum in its area?
  Provides financial assistance to Bankstown Historical Society and a place to meet and store collection but not a museum.  
8. Does Council operate a 'local heritage fund'? Please indicate
     level and type of assistance.

 

Bankstown Heritage Fund, $20,000 annually to owners of listed heritage items on dollar for dollar basis.

  
9. Does Council provide conservation incentives other than through
     its local heritage fund?
 

Incentives for conservation through Local Environmental Plan. Bankstown Council provides conservation incentives through its LEP by allowing owners to change the use of a heritage item without the need for a rezoning LEP, provided the change of use does not adversely affect the significance of the item or the amenity of the neighbourhood.

  
10. Does Council prepare and distribute information to its local community
       to assist residents in undertaking and conserving items of significance?
  Not at present - although this is planned for 2001/2002.  
11. Does Council employ a Heritage Adviser? (please give details)
  Yes. Name: Cheryl Kemp
  
 

Statutory Controls
12. Does Council have an adopted Heritage Local Environment Plan or a Schedule of Items of Environmental Heritage attached to its LEP?
  Yes, gazetted March 2001  
13. Does Council have a policy of removing items from the LEP
       on the basis of an owner's opposition even though due process
       has been followed and the item's significance established?
  Yes - listing of a private residence is on voluntary basis only.  
14. How many items from the following periods are included
       in the LEP? 1900-1929?  1930-1949?  1950-2001?
1900- 1929 40 1930-1949  5 1950-2001 3
15. How many industrial heritage sites are included in the LEP?
  1 - Bankstown Aerodrome  
16. How many items of moveable heritage or collections are included in the LEP?
  0  
17. Does the LEP require consideration of impacts from
      developments in the vicinity of heritage items?
  Yes  
18. Does the LEP include curtileges for listed items and
       important views and vistas?
  Yes - curtilege is considered as part of the 'in the vicinity clause' and under conservation of Heritage Items.  
19. Does the LEP include items or places owned by Council?
  Yes - 2 War Service Homes Commission Houses, Council Chambers and a monument  
20. How many conservation areas are included in the LEP?
  0  
21. How many listings of significant interiors are included in the LEP?
  0  
22. How many natural areas of heritage significance are included in the LEP?
  1 - Cattle Duffers Flat  
23. How many archaeological sites are included in the LEP?
  18  
24. How many Aboriginal sites are included in the LEP?
  0