THE Fremantle Society has urged Fremantle council to embed a UNESCO-backed heritage model into its planning scheme to better protect the city’s urban fabric, and particularly its West End.
Adopted in 2011, UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape approach helps integrate the conservation of cultural and natural heritage with sustainability, but looks beyond the buildings themselves to engage a community in discussions about the social, environmental, economic and cultural heritage of their city.
The society engaged heritage expert Richard Mackay in February to look at ways of better protecting the city’s historic streetscapes after becoming increasingly concerned that too many developments were chipping away at their integrity.
Mr Mackay agreed, his report saying there were “many additions behind and above historic facades” which followed contemporary practice and abided by planning controls.
“Some, but by no means all, feature good design and/or innovative adaptation,” Mr Mackay said.
“However, if allowed to continue for the life of the new planning scheme (presumably over some decades) this practice of intervention, alteration and addition will continue to erode the integrity of the historic fabric and urban form in the West End.”
He also took aim at the new police complex on South Terrace, saying that along with the historic extension of Parry Street, it “obstruct[ed] the visual physical and historic connection between the prison and the West End”.
Mr Mackay said many of the city’s issues could be dealt with through the UNESCO model.
“HUL provides a globally-recognised successful framework for integrated consideration of urban cultural heritage places, with comprehensive consideration of economic, environmental and social issues.”
Mr Mackay also suggested the council establish an “enduring heritage forum” where key stakeholders could highlight issues and idea for the council and report back on heritage program and projects.
Society president John Dowson embraced the HUL suggestion, which is estimated to cost $200,000 and take nine months to implement.
“What it does is establish a clear set of guidelines and priorities, including conservation projects and incentives, that feed directly into a planning scheme,” Mr Dowson said.
“The costs are relatively small considering the outcome, and this could be the major bicentennial gift the City can present to the community.”
Mr Dowson and the society’s committee also called for the reinstatement of a 1.25 per cent levy on rates to be used to support owners of heritage buildings to maintain and restore them.
The committee also wanted the West End exempt from standard density requirements in recognition of its importance, banning apartments from Fremantle Oval to protect the West End/Prison connection and expand the West End boundaries to those originally proposed.