The new Heritage Nomination Process Explained
What used to happen
Prior to 2023 Council would periodically undertake heritage reviews every 5-10 years and INDEPENDENTLY nominate the best properties in the council for heritage consideration.
The NEW Heritage Nomination process
Heritage activists have influenced the council to adopt a new NOMINATION process in 2023. Now anyone can nominate any property for Heritage listing even if previous independent studies did not list them as worthy of heritage consideration.
The first batch of 8 properties to be listed for Heritage listing under this new policy clearly demonstrates not being worthy of heritage listing however, Council officers have recommended that all 8 be listed for Heritage Significance.
Boroondara Council will be meeting to
adopt these recommendations
Monday 5th August 2024 at 6:30PM
Council Chambers 8 Inglesby Road,
Camberwell Vic 3124
How this new policy affects you
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Any neighbour or person with a grudge against you can nominate your property for heritage protection.
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Anyone who sees you selling your property and wants to stop any development on it or devalue it can nominate your property for heritage protection.
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Racists within the community can derail your property sale to multicultural buyers by listing it for protection after an auction or private sale.
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If you have recently sold your property to a racial minority buyer, a racist individual can nominate your property for heritage protection in order to stop the property sale. You will be required to disclose the nomination to the buyer who may decide to exit the contract or litigate against you for damages.
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Heritage protection will deter and prevent you and future owners of your property from undertaking renovations, extensions or new rebuilds on your property.
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Council is ignoring independent heritage advice and objectors and in the first batch of
nominations and is protecting 100% of all nominations. -
A heritage protection on your property significantly makes it more difficult to sell your property and will devalue your property by 30-40%.
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To fight and dispute heritage listing for your property, the process will cost you $100k-200k in legal costs without any guarantees of success.
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If your property is heritage listed there are NO appeal rights for you.
The First batch to be
Heritage listed
Council is meeting on 5th August to heritage list the following properties for heritage protection. The owners of these properties have objected to heritage listing and provided independent reports. Despite this Council officers are recommending to continue to list all of these for heritage protection.
Any regular person can see for themselves that these are NOT worthy of heritage protection as they are typical of many homes around Boroondara, yet council officers are recommending that ALL get heritage listed.
If these are to be heritage listed it sets a DANGEROUS precedent as 95% of all properties in Boroondara could similarly be listed as worthy of heritage protection
How can Boroondara Council justify Heritage Protection for these 8?
Boroondara council's report states the Following:
Boroondara council's report is trying to suggest that there is overwhelming support for heritage controls by the community. However it should be noted, they are seeking submissions from "nominators of the properties" and relevant historical groups (i.e.Anti-Development NIMBIEs) then ofcourse they are going to get a greater quantum of submissions supporting Heritage controls. These are not independent members of the boroondara community.
This is akin to you getting assaulted by a gang of individuals, then taking a survey from you and the gang, asking who the victim is. It should not come to anyone surprise that the gang will claim it was your fault. This is hardly independent evidence that can be relied on.
The fact that the council officers even include this into their report to justify the Heritage protection of these 8 properties is laughable and shows the gross incompetence and bias of Boroondara heritage officers.
The Dangerous precedent this new Heritage Nomination process sets
the first bath of 8 Nominated Heritage properties broadly should not be adopted as individually significant properties as any layperson can see.
95% of ALL properties in Boroondara council are of similar style to these inial 8 properties above. Marking them all for heritage protection creates a precedent that will mean that 95% of properties in Boroondara could easily be heritage protected if anyone nominates your property.
Anyone with a grudge against you including a disgruntled neighbor or heritage activist could derail your plans for a renovation, extension, new build, or even the sale of your property as heritage listings need to be legally disclosed and will deter buyers from your property.
We are also noticing a trend where if properties are sold to purchasers of a minority multicultural background they are deliberately being targeted by Heritage nominations. Of the initial batch of 8 properties under this new policy for adoption , 63% have property owners of a racial minority background. The Heritage Nomination process is clearly flawed and racially targeted.
Boroondara Council and fringe heritage activists are using the new Heritage Nomination Process as a method to weaponize heritage controls to prevent any change in our neighborhood and greatly increase the cost and administrative burden of making any change to your property.
I disagree with Boroondara's
Community Heritage Nomination Process
If you are a Boroondara Resident or property owner and disagree with the council's blatantly unfair Community Heritage Nomination Process you must make your voice heard.
Call and email your Boroondara Councillors.
Further details here: