Midland cottage fails Heritage measure

12/4/00
A 100-year-old cottage at Midland will not be given protection from demolition under the State Heritage Act.
Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said the Heritage Council had fully assessed the building and found it satisfied none of the thresholds for inclusion on the State Heritage Register.
Last month, Mr Kierath placed a stop work order on demolition of the Henry Street building to allow the assessment after concerns were raised by the Midland Society heritage group.
He said delaying the demolition order, granted by the City of Swan, had not been a waste of time or resources.
"It is important that the correct process is followed in determining the future of sites such as this," the Minister said.
"It turns out that the building does not warrant heritage protection but it would have been too late to determine that if it had been demolished."
The conservation order in the form of the stop work order, under section 59 of the Heritage Act, was effective for 42 days. It expired today.
Mr Kierath said the situation should serve as a reminder that the Heritage Council had finite resources and that all applications for heritage protection should be considered with this in mind.
"We don't want a situation where the assessment of obviously legitimate buildings is being put at risk by obviously flawed or at best marginal claims for assessment," he said.
"The work of the Heritage Council has to be supported by local groups and not impeded by reckless demands for assessment."
Media contact: Zac Donovan (08) 9213 6400