Adelaide City Council has been recognised for its track record in preserving historic buildings by Australia’s peak architectural body. The Royal Australian Institute of Architects commended the Council for its commitment to preserving the heritage and character of the City’s buildings, streetscapes and the public realm at Year of the Built Environment 2004 National Awards ceremony held at the Sydney Opera House last December.
In the first half of this financial year, Adelaide City Council distributed more than $586,000 through its innovative Heritage Incentive Scheme (HIS). Applications for the City’s HIS funding are called for by Council twice a year in the categories of documentation, conservation, special projects and emergency works.
Council has allocated $1 million for this scheme in 2004–05 with the second round of applications due for assessment early in the New Year.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Michael Harbison, said Adelaide City Council has been a national leader in protecting and maintaining properties and places of significant historical relevance. “It has implemented hundreds of local heritage listings in the past ten years. Council is delighted to receive this recognition of its commitment to heritage preservation,” he said.
HIS is one arm of the Council’s program of conservation for the City that includes the proposed North Adelaide Heritage Plan Amendment Report (PAR). PAR proposes the introduction of a historic (conservation) zone over the residential areas of North Adelaide and the introduction of over 200 additional local heritage listings.
Year of the Built Environment’s National Steering Committee Chair, David Parken, described the HIS program as a benchmark for heritage preservation.
“I encourage Council to continue its ambassadorial role beyond the Year of the Built Environment so that the future quality of life for Australians is not just maintained but enhanced,” he said.
