NORFOLK ISLAND
Heritage Act 2002
No. 6, 2003
Compilation No. 2
Compilation date: 1 July 2016
Includes amendments up to: Norfolk Island Continued Laws Ordinance 2015 (No. 2, 2015)
NORFOLK ISLAND
Heritage Act 2002
No. 6, 2003
Compilation No. 2
Compilation date: 1 July 2016
Includes amendments up to: Norfolk Island Continued Laws Ordinance 2015 (No. 2, 2015)
NORFOLK ISLAND
Section
1. Short title
2. Commencement
3. The Crown and the Administration
4. Application of other laws
5. Interpretation
6. Establishment
7. Making of register and variations
8. Application to vary Heritage Register
9. Amendment or withdrawal of application
11. Notices to owners of proposed heritage items
12. Public consultation
13. Inquiry into heritage matters
14. Decision on heritage proposal
15. Criteria for making or variation of the Heritage Register
16. Notice of making of Heritage Register
17. Commencement of provision of Heritage Register
18. Interim effect
19. Public access
20. Establishment of panel of heritage advisers
21. Constitution of panel
22. Appointment of heritage advisers
23. Term of appointment
24. Resignation
25. Removal from panel
26. When heritage adviser to be member of the Board
27. Heritage conservation fund
28. Heritage impact statements and conservation management plans for development under Planning Act 2002
29. Delegation by Minister
30. Delegation by Chief Executive Officer
31. Effect of documents being “available for public inspection”
32. Minister may refer matters to the Board
33. Regulations
34. Repeal of Heritage Act 1996
Schedule — Criteria for making or variation of the Heritage Register
NORFOLK ISLAND
Heritage Act 2002
BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island as follows:
1. This Act may be cited as the Heritage Act 2002.
2. (1) Section 1 and this section commence on the day on which this Act is notified in the Gazette.
(2) The remaining provisions commence on a day, or respective days, fixed by the Administrator by notice in the Gazette.
3. (1) This Act binds the Crown and the Administration.
(2) Nothing in this Act renders the Crown in any capacity or the Administration liable to be prosecuted for an offence.
4. Nothing in this Act limits or derogates from the operation of any other enactment.
5. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —
“Board” means the Norfolk Island Planning and Environment Board established under the Norfolk Island Planning and Environment Act 2002;
“heritage” means the archaeological, historical, aesthetic, architectural, scientific, natural, cultural or social heritage of Norfolk Island for the present community and for future generations;
“heritage adviser” means a person appointed to the panel of heritage advisers under Part 3 whose appointment is current;
“heritage conservation fund” means a heritage conservation fund established under the Regulations;
“heritage item” means an object or place listed on the Heritage Register;
“heritage proposal” means a proposal by the Minister to make the Heritage Register or to vary the Heritage Register;
“Heritage Register” means the Norfolk Island Heritage Register established by section 6, as varied from time to time;
“panel” means the panel of heritage advisers appointed under Part 3;
“proposed heritage item” means an object or place which is sought to be included in the Heritage Register whether by the making of the Register or variation of the Register;
“this Act” includes the Regulations;
“variation application” means an application under section 8 to vary the Heritage Register;
“vary”, in relation to the Heritage Register, means to add an object or place to the Register or to omit a heritage item from the Register.
6. (1) There shall be a Norfolk Island Heritage Register.
(2) The Heritage Register shall list objects and places of significance to the heritage of Norfolk Island.
7. (1) The Minister shall make the Heritage Register by instrument.
(2) The Minister may vary the Heritage Register by instrument.
(4) The Heritage Register may be varied under subsection 7(2) on an application by a person or on the Minister’s own initiative.
8. (1) Any person may make a variation application to the Chief Executive Officer.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by —
(a) information or documents to support the application; and
(b) any information or documents required under any other enactment; and
(c) the prescribed fee (if any) for such an application.
(3) The Chief Executive Officer may, if the Chief Executive Officer considers it reasonable in the circumstances, require an applicant to provide further relevant information or documents by written notice to the applicant.
(4) A requirement under subsection 8(3) shall be made within 14 days of receipt of the application.
9. A variation application may be amended or withdrawn by the applicant at any time.
11. (1) Before making the Heritage Register or a variation to the Register, the Minister shall take all reasonable steps to give the owner of each object or place in the heritage proposal, notice of the proposal.
(2) The notice shall —
(a) specify the object or place proposed to be listed on or removed from the Heritage Register; and
(b) indicate where and when the proposal is available for inspection; and
(c) include a statement about the interim effect of the proposal under section 18; and
(d) invite submissions from the owner about the proposal.
12. (1) Before making the Heritage Register or a variation to the Register, the Minister shall invite public submissions about the heritage proposal by notice published in the Gazette —
(a) indicating where and when the proposal is available for inspection; and
(b) including a statement about the interim effect of the proposal under section 18.
(2) The Minister shall take such other measures as the Minister considers appropriate to ascertain public opinion about the heritage proposal and to respond to such opinion.
(3) The heritage proposal shall be available for public inspection.
13. (1) This section applies where —
(a) the Minister is considering a heritage proposal; or
(b) a variation application is made to the Chief Executive Officer; or
(c) the Minister considers a matter may have a significant impact on the implementation of the objects of this Act.
(2) The Minister may appoint, by notice published in the Gazette, a person to investigate any matters relating to the matters to which this section applies and make recommendations on the matters.
(3) Upon publication of the notice, the person is taken to be a Commission of inquiry issued under the Royal Commissions Act 1928 and has all the powers, privileges and protection of a Commission under that Act.
(4) The Administrator may, under section 33 make Regulations prescribing the procedures to be followed in the investigation of matters under this section.
14. (1) Following the notification of a heritage proposal under section 12, the Chief Executive Officer shall refer the heritage proposal and supporting documentation and submissions received as a result of public consultation on the proposal and a report on the submissions from the Chief Executive Officer to the Board for its consideration.
(2) Following receipt of the Board’s recommendation on the heritage proposal, the Minister may decide —
(a) to make the Heritage Register or variation to the Register whether or not in the form of the heritage proposal; or
(b) to withdraw the proposal.
(3) A decision under subsection 14(2) shall be made no earlier than 28 days following the later of —
(a) the notification; or
(b) if a person is appointed under section 13 to inquire into and make recommendations on matters in relation to the proposal, the date the recommendations are made.
(4) Notice of a decision to withdraw a heritage proposal shall be published in the Gazette.
(5) In considering a heritage proposal, the Minister shall have regard to the matters, if any, prescribed by the Regulations.
(6) When considering any submission which objects to a heritage proposal, the Minister shall give utmost consideration to the significance, as part of the heritage of Norfolk Island, of the object or place the subject of a heritage proposal.
15. (1) In considering a heritage proposal, the Minister shall determine the heritage significance of the proposed heritage item against the criteria for entry in the Heritage Register, listed in the Schedule and any other matters, prescribed by the Regulations.
(2) The Minister may only include a proposed heritage item in the Heritage Register, whether by making or variation of the Register, if —
(a) the Board has assessed the item, determined that the item is of heritage significance to the heritage of Norfolk Island and recommended the item be included in the Heritage Register; and
(b) in the opinion of the Minister, the item meets three or more of the criteria for entry in the Heritage Register.
16. (1) The Minister may make the Heritage Register or variation to the register whether or not in the form of the heritage proposal.
(2) Notice of the making of the Heritage Register or of a variation to the Heritage Register shall be published in the Gazette, together with —
(a) a statement about the commencement of the Register or variation pursuant to section 17; and
(b) a statement indicating where and when the Heritage Register is available for inspection.
17. A provision of the Heritage Register, or of a variation to the Register, comes into effect on the later of —
(a) the date of publication in the Gazette of the relevant notice under subsection 16(2); or
(b) a date of commencement specified in the notice.
18. (1) A heritage proposal, other than a proposal to remove a heritage item from the Heritage Register, has interim effect as a listing of the object or place on the Heritage Register on and from the later of —
(a) the notification of a heritage proposal under section 12; or
(b) a date specified in the notice.
(2) Any interim effect of a heritage proposal under this section ceases on the earlier of —
(a) the commencement under section 17 of the listing of the object or place through the making of the Heritage Register or a variation to the Register listing the object or place; or
(b) the day after the publication of a notice of a decision to withdraw the proposal under subsection 14(3).
19. The Heritage Register, heritage proposals and variation applications shall be available for public inspection.
20. The Minister shall establish a panel of heritage advisers.
21. (1) The panel shall consist of such number of persons from time to time appointed by the Minister to the panel.
(2) In appointing a heritage adviser, the Minister shall endeavour to ensure that the adviser is a person with knowledge of or experience in one or more of the following disciplines and areas of expertise and interest as it relates to Norfolk Island —
(a) archaeology;
(b) Norfolk Island history and culture;
(c) urban, regional or environmental planning;
(d) engineering;
(e) architectural history;
(f) heritage conservation;
(g) landscape architecture;
(h) the natural environment and its conservation.
22. (1) The Minister shall publish notice in the Gazette of the appointment of a heritage adviser.
(2) Before making an appointment of a heritage adviser, the Minister may invite expressions of interest to be a heritage adviser, by notice published in the Gazette and any other publication as the Minister determines.
(3) The notice shall, indicate —
(a) how, where and when an expression of interest may be made; and
(b) the knowledge or experience specified in subsection 21(2) in relation to appointment of heritage advisers.
(4) Failure to comply with subsection 22(2) or 22(3) does not affect the validity of an appointment of a heritage adviser.
23. A heritage adviser holds office for 3 years, or for such lesser period as is specified in the instrument of appointment, and is eligible for reappointment subject to this Division.
24. A heritage adviser may resign from the panel by writing signed by the heritage adviser and given to the Minister.
25. (1) The Minister may remove the name of a heritage adviser from the panel for any of the following reasons —
(a) inability;
(b) inefficiency;
(c) misbehaviour;
(d) physical or mental incapacity.
(2) Before terminating the appointment under subsection 25(1), the Minister shall give the heritage adviser a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations forming the basis of the proposed removal.
26. For paragraph 6(1)(b) of the Norfolk Island Planning and Environment Board Act 2002, one heritage adviser shall be appointed to, and be a member of, the Board when the Board considers and makes recommendations on any of the following matters —
(a) the Heritage Register;
(b) a heritage proposal;
(c) development applications made under the Planning Act 2002 in relation to objects and places listed in the Heritage Register;
(d) heritage conservation on Norfolk Island; and
(e) the application of money from a heritage conservation fund in furtherance of the objects of this Act.
27. (1) The Administrator may, under section 33 make Regulations providing for the establishment and operation of a heritage conservation fund for the purpose of providing financial assistance towards the conservation of a heritage item.
(2) A heritage conservation fund shall be operated and utilised as prescribed by the Regulations.
(3) The Minister may accept donations of money for the purposes of a heritage conservation fund which shall be paid into that fund.
(4) Proper accounts shall be kept of the operations of a heritage conservation fund and all monies in that fund shall be applied only for the purposes of conservation of heritage items.
28. (1) For a development application under the Planning Act 2002 that is in relation to, or is likely to affect, a heritage item —
(a) the applicant shall prepare, in relation to that item, a heritage impact statement; and
(b) the Minister shall also have regard to the heritage impact statement for the item.
(2) The form and content of the heritage impact statement shall be as directed by the Minister.
(3) For a development application under the Planning Act 2002 that is in relation to a heritage item —
(a) the Minister may require the applicant to prepare in relation to that item a conservation management plan; and
(b) if so, the development application shall not be proceeded with until —
(i) the conservation management plan is approved for the heritage item pursuant to the Regulations; or
(ii) the Minister withdraws the requirement.
(4) In considering a development application, the Minister shall also have regard to any conservation management plan approved pursuant to the Regulations for any heritage item affected, or likely to be affected, by the proposed development.
29. (1) The Minister may, by instrument, delegate any of the functions or powers of the Minister under this Act other than this power of delegation.
(2) A delegation under subsection 29(1) may be made —
(a) to a specified person; or
(b) to the holder for the time being of a specified office or position.
(3) A delegate, in making a decision in accordance with a delegation under this section, shall comply with the requirements of this Act which the Minister is required to comply with in making such a decision.
30. (1) The Chief Executive Officer may, by instrument, delegate any of the powers of the Chief Executive Officer under this Act other than this power of delegation.
(2) A delegation under subsection 30(1) may be made —
(a) to a specified person; or
(b) to the holder for the time being of a specified office or position.
(3) A delegate, in making a decision in accordance with a delegation under this section, shall comply with the requirements of this Act which the Chief Executive Officer is required to comply with in making such a decision.
31. (1) Where a provision of this Act states that any document shall be available for public inspection, the Chief Executive Officer shall ensure that the document is available for public inspection free of charge at the offices of the Administration determined by the Chief Executive Officer during usual business hours.
(2) On application by any person accompanied by the determined fee, the Chief Executive Officer shall ensure that a copy of a document, or an extract from a document that is available for public inspection, is made available to the person.
32. The Minister may refer to the Board —
(a) any matter relevant to any decision the Minister may make under this Act; or
(b) any matter relevant to the effective administration of this Act.
33. (1) The Administrator may make Regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing matters —
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) The Regulations may prescribe penalties not exceeding 10 penalty units for a contravention of the Regulations.
(3) Without limiting the Regulations which may be made under subsection 33(1), Regulations may be made under this section with respect to procedures to be followed in determining heritage proposals.
34. The Heritage Act 1996 is repealed.
Section 15
The criteria to be used in assessing whether or not an object or place should be listed in the Heritage Register are whether the object or place has special significance in Norfolk Island —
1. For the evolution of Norfolk Island’s natural or cultural history.
2. Because it demonstrates, rare or endangered aspects of Norfolk Island’s natural or cultural heritage.
3. Because it provides information that will contribute to an understanding of Norfolk Island’s natural or cultural history.
4. In demonstrating the principal characteristics of the range of landscapes, environments or ecosystems, the attributes of which identify them as being characteristic of their class.
5. By virtue of aesthetic characteristics or through technical, creative, design or artistic excellence, innovation or achievement valued by the Norfolk Island community.
6. Because it has a strong or special association with the Norfolk Island community for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
7. Because it has a special association with the life or works of a person or group of persons that have been significant in Norfolk Island’s natural or cultural history.
The Heritage Act 2002 as shown in this consolidation comprises Act No. 6 of 2003 and amendments as indicated in the Tables below.
Enactment | Number and year | Date of commencement | Application saving or transitional provision | ||
Heritage Act 2002 | 6, 2003 | Secs 1 & 2 comm 9.5.2003. Remainder comm. 15.8.2003 |
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Interpretation (Amendment) Act 2012 [to substitute throughout —Commonwealth Minister for Minister; and to substitute Minister for executive member] | 14, 2012 | 28.12.12 |
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[Previously consolidated as at 26 July 2013] | |||||
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Ordinance | Registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provision | ||
Norfolk Island Continued Laws Amendment Ordinance 2015 | 17 June 2015 (F2015L00835) | Sch 1 (items 110, 111, 344, 345): 18 June 2015 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (items 344, 345) | ||
as amended by |
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Norfolk Island Continued Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 2) Ordinance 2016 | 10 May 2016 (F2016L00751) | Sch 4 (item 23): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 4) | — | ||
ad = added or inserted | am = amended | rep = repealed | rs = repealed and substituted | ||||
Provisions affected | How affected | ||||||
5 | am | 14, 2012; Ord No 2, 2015 (as am by Ord No 5, 2016) | |||||
7 | am | 14, 2012; Ord No 2, 2015 | |||||
10 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
| rep | Ord No 2, 2015 | |||||
11 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
12 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
13 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
14 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
15 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
16 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
20 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
21 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
22 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
24 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
25 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
27 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
28 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
29 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||
32 | am | 14, 2012 | |||||