SA Heritage Council

• Introduction
• Membership
• Functions
• Reporting

Introduction

The South Australian Heritage Council supersedes the State Heritage Authority. It was created by amendments made to the Heritage Act 1993 in 2005.

Membership

The Council is an independent body of seven to nine members with expertise in history, archaeology, architecture, the natural sciences, heritage conservation, public administration, urban and regional planning and property development.

Functions

The Council provides strategic advice to the Minister for Environment and Conservation on heritage issues. It also administers the South Australian Heritage Register, including the entry and removal of State Heritage Places.

The full list of its functions is in section 5A of the Heritage Places Act 1993. The principal ones are:

• to provide advice (especially from a strategic perspective) to the Minister on matters relating to:
  • trends, shortcomings and opportunities with respect to heritage protection at the State and local level and, insofar as may be relevant, at the national level
  • the development and effectiveness of heritage conservation programs, policies, initiatives and incentives
  • the operation and enforcement of the Act
• to administer the South Australian Heritage Register
• to identify places, and related objects, of State heritage significance, and to enter them in the Register
• to identify areas of State heritage significance, and to promote their establishment, in appropriate cases, as State Heritage Areas under the Development Act 1993
• to initiate or support community awareness programs that promote public understanding and appreciation of the State's heritage, taking into account the objects of the Act.

The Council is supported by the Heritage Branch of the Department for Environment and Heritage.

Reporting

The Council is required to prepare an Annual Report. The Annual Reports of the Council and its predecessor, the State Heritage Authority, are available on the Publications page.