RHSV, on behalf of 340 historical societies in Victoria, makes submission on heritage protection

Monday 31 January 2022
The RHSV’s Heritage Committee, chaired by Emeritus Professor Charles Sowerwine has just made its submission to the Parliament of Victoria, Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee Inquiry to examine Planning and Environment Act
The Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) is the peak body representing approximately 340 community historical societies throughout Victoria. Our members are concerned at the increasing loss of precious heritage and so we welcome this Inquiry. We believe there has been a calamitous decline in the protection afforded local heritage by the Heritage Overlay (HO) as well as a decline in support for Councils to ensure that sites are covered by the HO.
We argue that the Dept of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has abrogated responsibility for local heritage protection & , worse, is seriously undermining it. We demonstrate this through two examples. The Carlton Inn (see image on left) became a target for developers after the Minister approved a Design & Development Overlay (DDO) which prescribed a 13-storey building for the site. Similar DDOs are being applied to the historic shopping strips of Melbourne with the result that developers are being encouraged to demolish most of heritage shop buildings for 6 to 10 storey buildings. These DDOS encourage developers & make a mockery of the Heritage Overlay. Their proliferation shows that DELWP has completely lost sight of its heritage responsibilities. We call for a revitalisation of the State’s role in providing leadership in the protection & management of local heritage.
To read the full submission go to the RHSV’s website here:
 (Image of the Corkman Hotel, formerly the Carlton Inn)