Council House
27 St George's Terrace, Perth.
GPO Box C120, Perth, Western Australia 6839. Telephone (08) 9461 3333 - Facsimile (08) 9461 3083 Web Site Address - http://www.perth. wa.gov. au
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City of Perth
Scanned copy of original submission
Enquiries to: 
Strategy ((08) 9461 3113)
23 February 2006
Heritage Inquiry Productivity Commission 
PO Box 80
BELCONNEN ACT 2616

Dear Sir

CONSERVATION OF AUSTRALIA'S HISTORIC HERITAGE PLACES

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on the draft Conservation of Australia's Historic Heritage places.

Firstly, the City of Perth would like to express its concern that aspects of its original submission were dealt with out of context. The Commission took the liberty of quoting from the City's submission without acknowledging additional information provided as part of its submission. In particular:

"The City of Perth is in the process of undertaking its own research to better understand the implications of heritage listing.

Preliminary findings are:

Properties in the King Street Precinct between Hay and Murray Street have shown a significant increase in value based on improved value per square metre.

The Precinct was established as a heritage precinct in 1989 with streetscape upgrades occurring between 1993 and 1997 to the value of $1.5 million.

In 1989 initial values reflected a rate per metre for land improvements of around $2,000.

Whilst major refurbishment's have occurred, properties in this precinct have increased in value (2003) based on preliminary evidence of between $12,000 - $14,000 m2 improved.

Actual Sales evidence over the same period has indicated a growth of 22.9% per annum in value.

Property on St Georges Terrace, the premier office address within the city (approx 2003) indicated that values were tracking from $8,500 per square metre improved.

 

Comparative assessment is still being undertaken.

The outcomes of the research are vitally important to determine where Councils limited resources should be allocated."

These findings have since been substantiated.

The Commission has an obligation to report accurately and not pick and choose quotes out of context from a series of some 78 questions it posed.

There are still a number of fundamental issues in relation to this Commission that have not been addressed:

1.   The City of Perth highlighted that there had not been adequate research undertaken into the implications of heritage listing. This comment becomes even more relevant now that the Commission is recommending fundamental changes to the way heritage is dealt with in Australia. To recommend such a significant departure from the current process based on no actual quantifiable research is very disturbing. The Commission could be guilty of accepting perception as fact, which is why the current debate surrounding heritage has been very one sided.

The Commission has not even recommended starting with some basic understanding of how heritage is currently perceived by the Australian public. In the UK for instance, a MORI (2000) survey was commissioned by English Heritage as part of a comprehensive review of government policies on the Historic Environment. This survey highlighted that only 2% of the people surveyed indicated that they had no interest in heritage whatsoever, while 98% of people surveyed had a positive association with heritage. The outcome of this research has then been the driver for change in changes to funding and legislation in the UK.

2.   The next debate to have once the above research has been conducted is to determine what is heritage - a public or private good. The Commission it would seem has made up its mind without this debate occurring and without the evidence to substantiate one side or the other. The City advocates and supports research, because not all listed private property should receive incentives, as some listed property has benefited economically from listing. The City believes heritage is both a public and private good and therefore cannot be left in one arena - being public or private. This is why its program has developed in the manner it has and why it has embarked on its own research.