Wollondilly Shire Council is inviting feedback on a refined planning proposal to update local heritage listings in the Wollondilly Local Environmental Plan 2011.

The aim is to ensure Wollondilly’s heritage places are properly identified, documented and managed, so they are conserved for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

The planning proposal has been shaped by the findings and recommendations of the Shire Wide Heritage Study, other relevant heritage studies, and previous community consultation.

Mayor Matt Gould said, “Council’s last heritage study was adopted in 1992, so after 30 years, the study and listings were well overdue for review.”

“Council began engaging with the community on this project in January-March 2022, with a number of potential heritage items nominated for further investigation.”

“Preliminary notification was carried out from 18 September to 16 October 2023, and it was resolved by the Local Planning Panel and Council at their December 2023 meetings that the planning proposal should progress, with some revisions, to allow further investigation and assessment of each item.”

“We are now at the public exhibition stage in the process, where there is further opportunity for community members to provide feedback before a final decision is made.”

“For landowners and occupants of the sites that are under consideration, we are also offering an opportunity for an onsite visit by Council staff and an independent heritage professional. This will help us confirm if the item matches the proposed listing information.”

“Even if you made a submission to the initial nomination process, or to the preliminary notification process, we encourage landowners and occupants in particular, to put forward their view in a submission.”

The planning proposal includes new items and landscape conservation areas, expansion of the Picton Conservation Area and updates to a number of existing items.

All the proposed listings are now considered draft heritage items/heritage areas and are protected under law. This means that heritage impact must be considered for any new development applications or works proposed on all properties affected by the Planning Proposal.

Visit Your Say Wollondilly to find out more and provide feedback before 5:00pm on Thursday 28 March.