❓ Ms. Evangel asks about heritage protection at Elizabeth Quay following media reports. The Minister assures the House that heritage is a key consideration, outlining measures in place and refuting claims of neglect, while also taking a swipe at the opposition's past proposals and current criticism.
AnsweredQoN 114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELIZABETH QUAY — HERITAGE ASSETS
114. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for
Planning:
I recently read an article in The Sunday Times about the heritage
discoveries at Elizabeth Quay. Could the minister please advise the house on
the actions being taken to protect the heritage assets in this area?
114. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for
Planning:
I recently read an article in The Sunday Times about the heritage
discoveries at Elizabeth Quay. Could the minister please advise the house on
the actions being taken to protect the heritage assets in this area?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I did, of course, see
the article in The Sunday Times last
weekend. In fact, I have been advised that two wooden beams sitting end to end
were discovered during excavation work at the Barrack Street jetty precinct.
They are being assessed for their historical significance. To the best of my
knowledge that is not certain at this stage, but, certainly, if they are
considered to be historically significant, a decision will then be made about
what is best done with them, and whether they will be incorporated into the
project or used in some other way.
I thought it important to provide
members and the wider community with assurances about the significance of
heritage issues to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and the government.
Indeed, protecting, preserving and interpreting heritage matters is one of the
key ingredients of the projects undertaken by the MRA. If we look at the
railway workshops in Midland, for example, as well as Northbridge, members
would well understand that protecting important heritage is a key aspect of the
MRA's work.
I was interested to note the member
for Girrawheen's comments. She described the protections in place for
the site's history as ''toothless''. She also said —
This is a registered heritage site
that is being destroyed without any regard to its significance.
This is simply not borne out by the
facts. We know that the member for Girrawheen and, indeed, the opposition in
general, certainly as articulated by the Leader of the Opposition in the
election campaign last year, have a major problem with this project, despite
the fact that the opposition proposed its own ''Dubai on Swan''
model in early 2008. Nevertheless, the project is going ahead and I am sure it
will be widely welcomed and heavily used by many members of the community when
the public realm is completed towards the end of next year.
Protections are in place for some of
the important public assets, including the Talbot Hobbs Memorial, the Florence
Hummerston Kiosk and a brick water and/or sewer line that was found during
works on The Esplanade. These are being preserved and will be incorporated into
the public domain. As I have mentioned before, the Florence Hummerston Kiosk
will be reconstructed on the island in the inlet. There will be an interpretive
loop trail incorporated. There will be information about historical events
around The Esplanade site from both an Aboriginal and European perspective. The
interpretive loop trail will be interspersed with Indigenous public art, which
will reveal the cultural significance of the area and also help to consolidate
a sense of identity and place.
As I said, heritage protection is a
key aspect of what the MRA does. It has a heritage interpretation strategy,
which is supported by the Heritage Council of Western Australia and is
available on the MRA website. The MRA also has in place an archaeological land
and maritime management plan, consistent with the principles of the Burra
charter, to ensure that heritage aspects are managed appropriately if there is
a find of significance on the site. In the event that there is a find of
significance, all appropriate protocols are in place, and the MRA and the
contractor will work closely with and follow advice from the independently
contracted heritage consultants—Hocking Heritage Studio and
Archaeological and Heritage Management Solutions—and the State Heritage
Office. Heritage aspects are being taken very seriously by the MRA and the
government, and I think what I have just outlined demonstrates that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You
remind me of Indiana Jones!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, thank you for taking us through a movie today. I call
you to order for the first time.
the article in The Sunday Times last
weekend. In fact, I have been advised that two wooden beams sitting end to end
were discovered during excavation work at the Barrack Street jetty precinct.
They are being assessed for their historical significance. To the best of my
knowledge that is not certain at this stage, but, certainly, if they are
considered to be historically significant, a decision will then be made about
what is best done with them, and whether they will be incorporated into the
project or used in some other way.
I thought it important to provide
members and the wider community with assurances about the significance of
heritage issues to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and the government.
Indeed, protecting, preserving and interpreting heritage matters is one of the
key ingredients of the projects undertaken by the MRA. If we look at the
railway workshops in Midland, for example, as well as Northbridge, members
would well understand that protecting important heritage is a key aspect of the
MRA's work.
I was interested to note the member
for Girrawheen's comments. She described the protections in place for
the site's history as ''toothless''. She also said —
This is a registered heritage site
that is being destroyed without any regard to its significance.
This is simply not borne out by the
facts. We know that the member for Girrawheen and, indeed, the opposition in
general, certainly as articulated by the Leader of the Opposition in the
election campaign last year, have a major problem with this project, despite
the fact that the opposition proposed its own ''Dubai on Swan''
model in early 2008. Nevertheless, the project is going ahead and I am sure it
will be widely welcomed and heavily used by many members of the community when
the public realm is completed towards the end of next year.
Protections are in place for some of
the important public assets, including the Talbot Hobbs Memorial, the Florence
Hummerston Kiosk and a brick water and/or sewer line that was found during
works on The Esplanade. These are being preserved and will be incorporated into
the public domain. As I have mentioned before, the Florence Hummerston Kiosk
will be reconstructed on the island in the inlet. There will be an interpretive
loop trail incorporated. There will be information about historical events
around The Esplanade site from both an Aboriginal and European perspective. The
interpretive loop trail will be interspersed with Indigenous public art, which
will reveal the cultural significance of the area and also help to consolidate
a sense of identity and place.
As I said, heritage protection is a
key aspect of what the MRA does. It has a heritage interpretation strategy,
which is supported by the Heritage Council of Western Australia and is
available on the MRA website. The MRA also has in place an archaeological land
and maritime management plan, consistent with the principles of the Burra
charter, to ensure that heritage aspects are managed appropriately if there is
a find of significance on the site. In the event that there is a find of
significance, all appropriate protocols are in place, and the MRA and the
contractor will work closely with and follow advice from the independently
contracted heritage consultants—Hocking Heritage Studio and
Archaeological and Heritage Management Solutions—and the State Heritage
Office. Heritage aspects are being taken very seriously by the MRA and the
government, and I think what I have just outlined demonstrates that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You
remind me of Indiana Jones!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, thank you for taking us through a movie today. I call
you to order for the first time.
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