The following section details the management recommendations which should be adopted by Council to enable and encourage conservation of the Shire's heritage. The Council has a major role in determining the extent to which the Shire's heritage is maintained through its own policies and guidelines and the dissemination of information to the local community.
Adoption of a positive attitude to conservation by the Wentworth Shire council and staff is integral to the preservation, recognition and enhancement of the Shire's environmental heritage. Such an attitude can be engendered by the adoption of the policies and recommendations put forward in this report.
Recommendation
The Wentworth Shire Council to adopt a positive and clear policy framework regarding heritage conservation as set out in this report.
Local government has been given prime responsibility for local planning and heritage conservation within their council area through the Environmental Plans and subsequent development control practices. The Shire Council is currently revising the local planning scheme. The new comprehensive Local Environmental Plan should incorporate the appropriate standard heritage conservation clauses as issued by the New South Wales Department of Planning (see Appendix 6). Those items warranting conservation should be itemised within the LEP and appropriately mapped.
The planning department should provide a flexible, informative and positive approach to the local community and developers in regard to conservation. Positive initial advice on suitable development to enhance and preserve the Shire's heritage is essential. The existing Village zones enable a more flexible approach to the use of environmental heritage items in townships which ultimately encourages viability. Such a flexible approach should also be encouraged within the rural zone, without compromising the overall intention of the zone.
Recommendations
The Council's Planning staff make full and consistent use of Section 90 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act in dealing with heritage matters.
The heritage provisions as set out by Appendix 6 to be included within the draft Local Environmental Plan currently being prepared by the Shire.
The Council's planning staff to maintain positive attitudes sympathetic development and discouragement to proposals which work against conservation objectives.
Recognise the heritage worth of all items listed in appendix 5 of this report by considering their level of significance and recommendations prior to consideration of development, building or alteration proposals of the item or adjacent items.
The following items to be included within a schedule of heritage items within the Local Environmental Plan and afforded the protection provided by those clauses within the LEP having specific reference to that schedule:
ITEM DESCRIPTION LOCATION
3 Customs Officers Residence, Wharf Street Wentworth
11/12 Post Office and Residence, Darling Street Wentworth
13 Courthouse, Darling Street Wentworth
14 Anglican Rectory, Darling Street Wentworth
15 St Johns Anglican Church, Darling Street Wentworth
19 Wentworth Gaol, Beverley Street Wentworth
20 Rendlesham House, Sandwych Street Wentworth
21 Yampa, Sandwych Street Wentworth
31 "The Nunnery", Cadell Street Wentworth
32 St Ignatius Convent, Cadell Street Wentworth
33 "Crangs", Cadell Street Wentworth
36 The Murray-Darling Junction, Cadell Street Wentworth
39 Lockmasters Residence, Cadell Street Wentworth
40 Wentworth Cemetery, Cadell Street Wentworth
45 Wentworth Water Tower Wentworth
46 Telegraph Hotel, Tarcoola Street Pooncarie
47 Pooncarie Police Station, Tarcoola Street Pooncarie
49 Pooncarie Cemetery, Menindee Road Pooncarie
50 Dareton State Bank, Tapio Street Dareton
54 Gol Gol Cemetery Gol Gol
60 Curlwaa Store, Delta Road Curlwaa
65 Tara Downs Homestead Anabranch
68/69 Avoca Homestead and Outbuildings, Pomona Road Central
72 Para Homestead, Lower Darling Road Central
73 Para Woolshed, Lower Darling Road Central
76 Moorna Station Homestead, Renmark Road Central
80 Lake Victoria Homestead and Store Lake Victoria
86 Kulkurna Woolshed Lake Victoria
92 Nulla Nulla Woolshed, Renmark Road Lake Victoria
99 Windamingle Homestead, Silver City Highway Anabranch
109 Moorara Homestead, Menindee Road Darling
The Building Department's actions should be orientated towards conservation. Discretion and flexibility by building officers with regard to the issue of demolition notices should ultimately prevent the removal of buildings which are part of the Shire's heritage. Some fire regulations which can often have the effect of damaging the interiors and exteriors of heritage buildings can be avoided by utilisation of Section 129 of the Heritage Act.. Clauses in Ordinance 70 enable flexibility in the requirements for compliance alterations, provided the Council is satisfied the building has structural and fire safety. The use of heritage buildings should be encouraged, particularly those used for exterior renovation. Consultation between the building and planning departments should be undertaken, where appropriate, in regard to items of environmental heritage.
Recommendations
The issue of demolition notices on buildings which are part of the Shire's heritage should only be undertaken by Council when no other alternative is available.
The provisions of the Heritage Act should be used, where practicable, to avoid the issue of notices which would damage the Shire's heritage.
The flexibility available in Ordinance 70 should be used to avoid damage to the Shire's heritage in the case of change of use of an existing building.
The council should give approval to the use of building materials which are sympathetic to the character of heritage items.
The Council's building staff to make full and consistent use of Section 313 of the Local Government Act in dealing with matters of environmental heritage significance.
The adoption of the Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (The Burra Charter) as a document to guide Council in making decision about heritage matters is vital.
Recommendation
The Council to adopt the Burra Charter as its basis for administering heritage matters in the Shire.
Council's own building works can drastically impinge upon the conservation of the Shire's heritage. Road works, street planting, tree lopping, drainage works and similar council functions can destroy or adversely alter heritage items and places. Such works should be carried out in consideration of the location of heritage sites and the character of the locality.
The actions of Council in enhancing and conserving the Shire's heritage can result in a similar community response. The restoration of Council owned property of historic value such as the Town Hall, public halls and recreation facilities is desirable. Such works may only involve the painting of a facade, reinstatement of an original awning or the like. However minor the change, it results in a significant addition to the conservation movement within the Shire.
Recommendations
The Council should adopt the policy to conserve existing structures in the course of its works and development of its property.
The Council should undertake tree maintenance, carefully and sympathetically, so as to enhance the Shire's heritage.
Any excavation works undertaken by Council should not disturb aboriginal relics.
Any road works, drainage works and landscaping undertaken by Council should take into consideration the historic character and layout of the area and not impose unsympathetic engineering or planting standards within the Shire.
The Council should ensure a close working relationship between its Planning, Building and Engineering staff.
Where possible, the Council should initiate restoration and heritage enhancement projects upon its own property.
The Council should continuously maintain a register of the Shire's heritage by regular review and update where appropriate. Council's awareness and recognition of the Shire's heritage and appropriate methods of conservation can be heightened by the establishment of a comprehensive library through the collection of local documents from the now defunct historical society and acquisition of reference books recommended in Appendix 7 of this report. In addition, the services of a heritage advisor are highly recommended to assist Council in assessing development proposals, maintaining the register of heritage items and educating Council and the local community on their role in the conservation of the Shire's heritage. Such an advisor should have a conservation architectural background, good local knowledge and availability at call. Possibly employed under contract, the advisor may only be required a few times a year due to the minimal nature of development in the area.
Participation in seminars and conferences pertaining to heritage and conservation is encouraged for both council and staff.
Recommendations
The Heritage Register to be updated by regular revision of the Shire's heritage.
The Council should investigate the possibility of employing a heritage advisor and the extent of assistance available from the Heritage and Conservation Fund for such an appointment.
The Council should encourage the establishment of a library containing reference material relating to the Shire's heritage and conservation, for public use.
The Council representatives and staff should attend relevant seminars and conferences regarding heritage and conservation.
The Wentworth Shire is largely comprised of land administered by the Western Lands Commission and Department of Water Resources. However, most items identified in this study are located on freehold land and administered by the Council. This is not the case for aboriginal sites, which are usually located on irrigated or pastoral leases and are administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. There are numerous government bodies which require consultation prior to development. It is vital that a unified approach to the Shire's heritage is achieved by the numerous government authorities involved in the Shire.
Continuous consultation between the Council, Western Lands Commission, Department of Water Resources and National Parks and Wildlife Service is essential. Additionally, the local community and heritage interest groups should be privy to such consultation. Ideally, the formation of a Shire conservation committee should comprise nominated Council members, government authority representatives, Heritage Council representatives, National Trust representative, Planning, Building and Engineering Department representatives, the local Heritage Advisor, and nominated interested representatives from the local community (including a member of the Aboriginal Community). Such a committee can be formed under Ordinance 1 of the Local Government Act and can be expected to result in a development of a unified approach to the Shire's heritage and development issues. Additionally, the committee would provide a forum for the dissemination of new information regarding heritage and conservation.
Recommendations
The Council should establish a heritage Advisory Committee under Ordinance 1 of the Local Government Act including the following members:
Local Government representatives
Shire President
Council Planner
Council Health and Building Inspector
Council Engineer
National Parks and Wildlife Service Representative
Western Lands Commission representative
Department Water Resources Representative
Heritage Council representative
National trust of New South Wales representative
Aboriginal Representative
Heritage Advisor or Local conservation Architect
The Council should alert the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Lands Commission and Department of Water Resources to the findings of this study.
The Council should advise all relevant State and Commonwealth government departments and agencies of the findings of this study and ask for their co-operation in conserving the heritage of the Wentworth Shire.
The conservation of the shire's Heritage necessitates the active involvement of the local community. Generally, there is strong local support for heritage conservation in the Shire. However, an overall lack of community awareness of what constitutes heritage, how to conserve it and its importance to the Shire is evident. The Council can rectify these deficiencies by providing information about the Shire's heritage and stressing its significance by its own actions and through local publications.
Community activities including building renovation, gardening, fencing and facade painting can seriously amend the nature and character of heritage structures. A unified attitude to heritage retention is vital. The Council's positive approach to heritage can be enhanced by provision of advice and brochures on heritage retention and organisation of seminars and information days regarding the Shire's heritage.
It is important that uncharacteristic `heritage' enhancement is avoided. For instance bullnose verandahs and iron lace, often used to provide and historic appearance to a building, are out of character with typical building design in the Wentworth district.
Recommendations
The Council should ensure that residents are aware of the heritage of the Shire and of the importance of heritage to the future of the Shire.
The Council should display this report and its recommendations for public information and comment.
The Council should encourage residents to undertake maintenance and building works in a manner sympathetic to the original character of the building.
The residents should be guided and assisted to conserve those items of the Shire's Heritage under their ownership and control.
The Council should compile a brochure explaining the implications of the heritage Study, Council's approach to the Shire's heritage and the role of the community in conserving heritage.
The Council should make available information pamphlets on restoration and renovation of heritage buildings to the general public.
The Council should contribute to columns in the local press providing practical advice on conservation of the Shire's heritage.
The Council should initiate local public meetings and seminars aimed at disseminating information about the Shire's heritage and methods/attitudes to aid its conservation.
The Council should initiate civic and rural awards to encourage heritage conservation in townships and rural areas.
The most significant impact of development on the Shire's heritage is the potential destruction or disturbance of Aboriginal relics by subdivision or other development activity (these are referred to in Section 5.8), while the most visible impact of development on the shire's heritage are those activities occurring within the townships and involving or adjoining recognised heritage sites. The recent proposed expansion of the Wentworth Club, which is situated in the vicinity of important heritage items, is one such example.
Consultation between Council the developer and local community is vital in ensuring heritage conservation is not abated by new developments. Development should not be viewed as the ultimate threat to heritage items. New and old are able to complement each other with similar use of architectural elements, building materials, colours, building lines and bulk. Developers proposing schemes or modifications to items of heritage significance should be advised to consult with local conservation architects and the Council prior to submitting development plans.
Recommendations
The Council should pursue early consultation with Developers to ensure proposals enhance and do not negate the Shire's heritage.
The Community should be given the opportunity to comment on proposals affecting the Shire's heritage.
Council should refer development proposals on land likely to contain aboriginal relics, as depicted in Appendix 3 to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Local Aboriginal Lands Council prior to approval.
HERITAGE AND TOURISM
Tourism is an important industry within the Wentworth Shire. The Murray River attracts many visitors who tour the Shire to view items such as Mungo National Park, the Wentworth Gaol and the horticultural areas. Tourism is often viewed as the prime means by which the local economy can be boosted.
Heritage can provide an important drawcard for tourism but it must be handled sensitively and expertly managed. The Shire's natural, Aboriginal and European heritage can be utilised for tourism purposes. Council should encourage the development of tourism schemes such as heritage walks, organised tours to large rural homesteads, museums and displays and recreation works, such as the re-building of the Wentworth Wharf. However, it is important that all activities and construction be of a quality and style befitting the nature of the heritage item or activity.
Recommendation
The Council should encourage the utilisation of the shire's heritage for tourism but without compromise to that heritage.
The enhancement and maintenance of the Shire's heritage is largely hindered by the costs associated with such schemes and works. Long standing submissions to the Commonwealth Government on behalf of the heritage Council and other related bodies to provide taxation incentives for enhancement of heritage items have not succeeded. Some funding provision is available for local heritage conservation through the Heritage Conservation Fund, administered by the Heritage Council of New South Wales. However, the list is long and funds are limited. It is the Council's responsibility to initiate projects which may be assisted by such funds and to actively seek other forms of government funding.
Financial assistance to owners of local heritage items for upgrading and maintenance may be achieved by the development of a Local Heritage Fund. The establishment of such Funds are enabled by Section 504(1) of the Local Government Act, 1919. Finance could be paid in the form of an annual subsidy for appropriate maintenance of heritage items or `one-off' assistance for special projects approved by Council.
Local businesses and corporations should be encouraged to support the local community in heritage conservation. For instance, the reinstatement of traditional architectural elements in Wentworth's main street could be initiated with guidelines and some funds from Council, supported by negotiated discounts of paints and building materials from local businesses. The attraction to provide such assistance could be the increase in business resulting from increased tourism or local interest in the enhanced streetscape, A successful main street project in Glen Innes operated along these lines.
Recommendations
The Council should investigate State Government funding opportunities for conservation projects.
The Council should alert local businesses of the importance of heritage to the future economy of the Shire, in an endeavour to attract local business and corporate funding or assistance in conservation projects.
The Council should seek opportunities to provide financial incentives to residents actively promoting heritage conservation.
An increase in development activity can be expected to result in an increasing threat to archaeological remains. This is particularly so on the river Murray. It is possible to accommodate both interests by taking into account the likely positions of various sites and burials. Generally, areas of environmental sensitivity coincide with areas of the archaeology in this region. Most sites are going to be near water sources, both ancient and modern, and on or in landforms most sensitive to erosion. These are areas enjoyed by Aborigines for environmental, recreational and heritage reasons and are discussed specifically in the following paragraphs.
Outlet creeks that connect lakes to River channels are of prime archaeological importance. The wealth of tools, burials, middens and the few fish traps attest to their importance in prehistoric Aboriginal economy. The same is true today, with the use of lakes as water reservoirs. Earthworks to better manage water flow are common, but they must be controlled to disturb the area as little as possible,. The same mistakes as were made at Tandou should not happen again. There, a number of burials which were very likely a prehistoric cemetery, were completely destroyed by the massive irrigation system.
Flood mitigation and irrigation control demands the use of the lakes and their outlet creeks, of course, Buronga such works should probably be located and developed having regard to the archaeology as well as the hydrology.
In the Development Options, Map 13a of the Preliminary Investigations Report of the Local Environmental Study, land nominated for rural living covers both sides of Gol Gol creek.
The creek bed and margins should be avoided in any development, as should any associated sand dunes. It is possible that older and now defunct channels may exist between the Swamp and the River Murray. These will be restricted by local topography to near the present day course, except in the northwest corner of the proposed rural living section.
Recommendation
Outlet Creeks for lakes in the development area, specifically Fletcher's and Gol Gol Creeks, should be reserved.
All high ground on the edge of the River Murray flood plain is very likely to contain shell middens that date back over 10,000 years. Burials are extremely common at these locations, with some areas having one burial every 15 metres or less. Most sites are within 30 metres of the cliff edges, and often less. Since these strips of land are also under the greatest threat from erosion, either natural or from trail bikes or stock, it makes good sense to preserve them from any disturbance. These areas include Trentham Cliffs where a proposed rural living zone abuts the River, Gol Gol Bend south and west of the Sturt Highway, Rocky Point just west of Chaffey Bend, Boeill Lagoon, Halfway Rocks, and Cowanna Bend near the pumping station.
Ideally, development should avoid all present day river channels and old river courses. This is practical given that most of this land is low and grey clay country. However, higher patches, such as dunes bordering the channels will inevitably contain sites and burials in densities greater than on the open land away from the rivers or on the grey clay floodplains surrounding. These archaeological deposits are most often in the upper sandy loams of the dunes and would be disturbed by any building or agriculture. Archaeological investigation of these sites is necessary before proceeding with any development. Unfortunately, the risk of uncovering something is quite high, so even with a survey and small test excavations it will be possible to miss burials particularly. It would help to have a Sites Curator assist while excavation works are undertaken.
Gol Gol Lake, Swamp and Creek are known to be important to Aboriginal people. These are ephemeral lakes associated with the River Murray. The swamp used to have many carved and scarred trees. Burials are known from many places on the edges of the lakes and like all other lakes in southwest NSW, contain archaeological materials covering tens of thousands of years. These are extremely fragile dune systems that suffer from stock, trail bikes and even people walking on them. For example the visitors area at the Walls of China and at Lake Mungo has suffered severe erosion over the last ten years.
All lake margins and lunettes (crescentic sand dunes on the eastern side) should be avoided. The impact of stock should be minimised, if at all possible. Vehicular use should be banned, except in rare cases where sealed roads traverse the dunes. Although this affects the Shire mostly with Fletcher's and Gol Gol lakes, all other lakes in the Shire are as important.
Recommendations
High ground on the cliffed margins of the River Murray floodplain should be protected from erosion and development to a distance of at least 30 metres.
Sand dunes on the flood plains should be carefully monitored and investigated prior to any development.
Lake margins, especially the lunettes, should be protected from erosion and development.
Perry Sand Hill has been extensively studied by archaeologists from the Western Lands Commission. They are concerned at the rate of destruction by recreation vehicles of not only the archaeology and megafauna, but of the dune itself. Investigations show that many of the sites have been broken up and some destroyed. They have also documented the mobilisation of the dune, slowly covering the trees on the eastern side.
Vehicles should be restricted and a walking and interpretation area established, along the lines of Mungo National Park. There is no advantage to continued use of the dune to the point where it one day covers the Silver City Highway. The problem of finding an area for recreation vehicles is difficult, but will not be solve by destroying this area.
The series of sand dunes associated with ancient river channels just to the west of Wentworth town have been heavily quarried in the past. It was the main Wentworth Shire sand quarry at one time and is now closed. Small recent diggings show that people are getting trailer loads of sand, probably for gardens and the like. Even though quarrying has officially stopped there, recent developments show how events officially stopped there, recent developments show how events conspire to demonstrate the problems of sand quarrying. Examination of the general area highlighted the extent of archaeological features on the surface, including some disturbed human bone to the south of the road. At a nearby footpath to the east of the golf course it was evident a front end loader had recently dug into the sand beside the footpath and a number of leg and arm bones from a disturbed burial were lying on the surface.
Recommendations
Perry Sand Hill should be protected and the use of recreation vehicles discouraged.
Access to the sand quarry area west of Wentworth should be limited.
The shell midden opposite the department of Agriculture Research Station is known to the Aboriginal community and they have watched the road, drainage ditch and trail bikes destroy substantial parts of it National Parks & Wildlife Service is interested in some formal study of this early midden and in its preservation.
Lake Victoria is currently the subject of a plan of management being carried out by Mr Alan Lance (ANU-Tech). Aboriginal burials, cemeteries, dense occupation, and megafauna are all present in this area. All are under threat from off road vehicles and stock, which accelerate erosion and destroy archaeological sites. Recommendations will be examined by the interest authorities later this year.
Recommendation
The shell midden opposite the Department of Agriculture Research Station, to the south of and immediately adjacent to the Sturt Highway should be preserved.
The Shire is centrally placed in the Murray - Darling River basin. The scope for developing awareness of aboriginal history is ideal in terms of tourism (day trips, exploration, archaeological research) and education. The National Parks and Wildlife Service office in Buronga is an obvious place for tourists to get information about the history of the area, both Aboriginal and European. Wentworth should also be a sources of such information. Currently, the town has two museums, neither with more than a few stone artefacts nor any explanatory displays or material.
As a matter of urgency in promoting Australian history both within the region for education and for tourists, the museums in Wentworth need upgrading. At present there is no comparable institution in Mildura, but that is likely to change. Some museums have come to strife with the display of Aboriginal skeletal remains, even those of great antiquity. There are some sensitive issues that call for courtesy and common sense. For any tourist or education displays, the Shire should not have skeletal remains for public view. Photographs or casts should be vetted by the local Aboriginal community, or the Regional Land Council. As great religious and social importance. They are part of a funeral process and should be accorded the same respect as skeletons. Any question of museum display of these objects should be thoroughly discussed with local Aboriginal people.
Displays of Aboriginal culture are both interesting and desirable. Thought should be given to expanding the current display at Wentworth Gaol Museum and perhaps incorporating one in the new Folk Museum. Funds for these might be sought from the Department of Aboriginal affairs, the Museums Association, Heritage Commission and other government bodies as well as private investors.
Photographs, old and modern artefacts (especially wooden ones), interpretative material and cabinets would all enhance a display. For instance, different grinding slabs displayed `in action' with seeds, nardoo or ochre and with a map of where such objects are found makes for a more informative and interesting visit.
Another possibility concerns the collection of very old wooden artefacts currently held by managers of the Gaol Museum, in anticipation of proper curation and display facilities. Discussions have been held with the Dareton LALC about possible displays for the wooden artefacts and also about some of the bones of extinct giant marsupials preserved at Lake Victoria. Members of the community who visited Lake Victoria recently were very impressed with the fossils and would be interested in collecting and mounting the bones for display within the Shire. Single displays like this are difficult, but there are Museum training courses (such as at Canberra College of Advanced Education) which might be interested in working on such a project.
Aboriginal training / employment for museums or displays is probably a difficult proposition for the privately run Gaol Museum, but if an Aboriginal section were envisaged in the Folk Museum it should be considered. There are training opportunities for this at TAFE's and at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA). These museums also provide a suitable outlet for locally made, modern versions of wooden artefacts, manufactured by members of the local Aboriginal community.
Recommendation
The Council to seek funding assistance from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Museums Association and the Australian Heritage Commission to develop suitable displays of Aboriginal culture in the Shire.
The Council should have a thorough understanding of the archaeology in the proposed development area before any earth moving or other works start. This is done by having a contract archaeologist undertake a detailed survey which may include excavation. Lists of such people may be found through National Parks & Wildlife Service or by directly contacting consultants such as ANU-Tech or National Heritage Studies.