Draft Replacement Heritage Management Plan for the Australian War Memorial, Campbell ACT
Notification for Public Consultation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
Public Comment
The Minister for the Environment and the Australian War Memorial have prepared a draft replacement Heritage Management Plan under sections 324S and 341S of the EPBC Act to protect and manage the site’s Commonwealth Heritage and National Heritage values. This management plan will update and replace all previous management plans prepared for the Australian War Memorial.
Under section 324S(6)(a) of the EPBC Act, the Minister for the Environment invites comments on the draft management plan from members of the public, indigenous people with rights and interests in the relevant place, and any responsible agency of the Australian Capital Territory government. Concurrently, under section 341S(6)(b) of the EPBC Act, the Australian War Memorial invites comments from the same parties.
The draft management plan is available for public comment for 20 business days from the publication of this notice and can be downloaded from https://www.awm.gov.au/about/organisation/corporate/heritage or viewed at the Reading Room, which is located on the lower ground floor of the Australian War Memorial. Opening hours and how to access material at the Reading Room can be found at https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/research-at-the-memorial.
Written comments on the updated management plan can be submitted to:
Email: Heritage@awm.gov.au
Post: Heritage, Buildings & Services
Australian War Memorial
Administration Building, Treloar Crescent
CAMPBELL ACT 2600
OR
Director, Historic Heritage Section
Department of the Environment and Energy
E-mail: heritage@environment.gov.au
Post: GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
The closing date for public comment is 5:00pm AEDT on 6 September 2019.
The Australian War Memorial and the Minister for the Environment are required to consider all written responses received during the public consultation period. The final version of the Heritage Management Plan will be uploaded to the Australian War Memorial’s website.
Overview
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the legislative instrument that governs the protection and management of the Australian War Memorial in Campbell, ACT. This Act was enacted to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly with respect to matters of national environmental significance. The draft replacement Heritage Management Plan for the Australian War Memorial has been developed by the Minister for the Environment and the Australian War Memorial to address the need for an updated management strategy that will protect and manage the site's Commonwealth and National Heritage values. The draft management plan will replace all previous management plans prepared for the Australian War Memorial. The Minister for the Environment and the Australian War Memorial have invited public consultation on the draft management plan, in accordance with sections 324S(6)(a) and 341S(6)(b) of the EPBC Act, respectively. The policy objective is to ensure the effective protection and management of the Australian War Memorial's heritage values through a collaborative and inclusive process.
Scope and Application
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) applies to the draft replacement Heritage Management Plan for the Australian War Memorial, Campbell ACT, which is being prepared by the Minister for the Environment and the Australian War Memorial. This Act facilitates the protection and management of the site's Commonwealth Heritage and National Heritage values. The public consultation for this draft plan is open to members of the public, indigenous people with rights and interests in the relevant place, and any responsible agency of the Australian Capital Territory government, as specified in sections 324S(6)(a) and 341S(6)(b) of the EPBC Act. The consultation period is limited to 20 business days from the publication of this notice, ending at 5:00pm AEDT on 6 September 2019. Submissions can be made via email or post, as detailed in the notification. Both the Australian War Memorial and the Minister for the Environment are obliged to consider all written responses received during the consultation period before finalising the Heritage Management Plan, which will then be uploaded to the Australian War Memorial's website.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this piece of legislation include sections 324S and 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Section 324S(6)(a) provides the Minister for the Environment the authority to invite public comments on the draft replacement Heritage Management Plan for the Australian War Memorial. Section 341S(6)(b) allows the Australian War Memorial itself to invite comments from the public, indigenous people, and responsible agencies of the Australian Capital Territory government. The draft management plan, which seeks to protect and manage the site's Commonwealth Heritage and National Heritage values, is available for public consultation for 20 business days from the publication of this notice.
The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties involved. Both the Minister for the Environment and the Australian War Memorial must consider all written responses received during the public consultation period. This means that they are required to review and take into account the feedback and suggestions made by the public, indigenous people, and relevant government agencies. Additionally, the final version of the Heritage Management Plan must be uploaded to the Australian War Memorial’s website, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all interested parties.
The legislation also outlines the consequences for non-compliance, although no specific offences, penalties, or consequences are detailed in this particular notice. Generally, under the EPBC Act, breaches can lead to civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity and nature of the offence. Civil penalties can include fines of up to $66,600 for individuals and $333,000 for corporations, while criminal penalties can result in imprisonment for up to five years for individuals and higher fines for corporations. However, the specific consequences for not adhering to the consultation and consideration requirements outlined in this notice are not specified within the text provided.
Overall, the draft replacement Heritage Management Plan and the public consultation process are essential components of the legislative framework aimed at preserving the Australian War Memorial's heritage values. By engaging with the public and considering their feedback, the Minister for the Environment and the Australian War Memorial can ensure that the final management plan effectively protects and manages the site's Commonwealth and National Heritage values.