The former NSW Heritage Office was absorbed
into the Department in March 2006. The Heritage Council of NSW, of course,
continued to function as a statutory body to provide advice on heritage matters
to the Minister.
As part of the changes, some former
Heritage Office staff will now be integrated into the Department’s development
assessment, plan-making, strategic planning and policy teams.
This move will elevate consideration of
heritage matters into the heart of the Department’s core activities.
For instance, heritage experts will be
placed within teams that are assessing new environmental planning instruments
and development proposals – rather than being outside those teams which was
previously the case.
This will improve integrated outcomes and,
by streamlining internal processes, assist in timely Departmental service
delivery.
A standalone unit will specifically service
the ongoing role of the Heritage Council, including overseeing proposed State
heritage listings.
Under the internal changes
explained above existing heritage staff will continue to undertake heritage
work, and there will be no forced or voluntary redundancies.
Furthermore, the Department is committed to
the continuing use of the former Heritage Office’s headquarters in the State
heritage-listed former King’s school at Marist Place, Parramatta.
Departmental staff from a range of
divisions, including former Heritage Office staff, will continue to use this
facility.
In doing this, the Department is
illustrating its support for heritage adaptive re-use principles and also
supporting jobs in western Sydney.