The reality of the new Local Environment Plan came crashing into the consciousness of Captains Flat residents last week when the town's historic 1930s ore loader and weigh station was demolished. Residents had no warning.
The loader was demolished by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) which manages rail infrastructure for the Federal Government.
Had the historic structure been 'listed' by Palerang Council as significant, the outcome may have been different.
Brad Emery, ARTC Communications Manager told ABC Stateline program that the structure was unsafe and the timbers were 'rotten'. He said the site would be difficult to fence off.
However, just three days earlier, $14,000 of stabilisation work had been completed by the Department of Primary Industries Derelict Mines Branch.
The loader was an historic icon of Captains Flat, and featured on the cover of the 'Pathway To Gold' Tourism Brochure, which had been funded by the Commonwealth Regional Assistance Program and supported by the Capital Region employment Council.
Mining historian Barry McGowan was also vocal on the demolition having worked on a 2006 study into the mining heritage of Captains Flat.
Mr McGowan told Stateline "We had identified that particular area as of a very high significance, of heritage significance, and one of the reasons we did it was because we were very much aware that it was an icon to a local community and that is another heritage criteria."
Mr Emery said that ARTC "went through some significant heritage checks to find out about the, to find out the heritage significance of the site and found there was no heritage listing with either the local government, the NSW State Government or even the Commonwealth Government."
Mr Emery added that it "does beg the question why was the loader if it was of such heritage significance, which I'm not denying, it does seem strange that it wasn't put on any, even a local council heritage register."
Peter Marshall, President of the Captains Flat Community Association, was among the outraged residents and questioned the checks that had been carried out.
"Frankly it was absolutely lazy" said Marshall. "one phone call to a resident could have averted this."
No development application to Palerang Council was required, and Council was unaware of the impending demolition.
Mr Marshall also questioned the environmental aspects of the demolition itself. The timber that had had mining concentrates poured through it was tipped or taken away. "There was no environmental assessment of the demolition" said Marshall. "and water was pumped out of one of the holes onto the road, yet most of the stabilisation work by the DPI was to allow water to flow past the site rather than through it. Potentially it could be quite contaminated."
"Some of the larger timbers were salvaged from the site" said Marshall. "Were they to be for sale?"
Member of Monaro Steve Whan said "I am outraged that this has occurred without any consultation with either me or the community, and I will continue to advocate for proper community consultation of what should be considered heritage item."
"I will continue to advocate for proper consultation between the community and all levels of government" said Whan. "Mining is an integral part of the identity and history of Captains Flat and plays a significant role in attracting tourism to the area."
"This is land that the NSW Labor Government has been trying to get handed over to the Lands Department and if the Coalition hadn't blocked these attempts, then the site would have a different owner and a different outcome for this historical monument. My own Department had already invested vital money for its restoration, so I'll be seeking answers" said Mr Whan.
"I expect to have discussions with ARTC about restoring this monument given their pre-emptive action in demolishing it without consultation."
It's not the first time that a demolition of a heritage item has caused concern among Palerang residents. With the formation of the new LEP, Palerang Council will need to produce an updated list of items of local significance for the entire shire. Recently a detailed Thematic Study and Heritage Inventory for the western side of Palerang were completed and the Thematic Study was uploaded to Palerang's website over the long weekend. The Heritage Inventory is however only available at www.richardgraham.com.au
The list of Heritage items for the old Tallaganda area is only a brief list, (no explanations, no pictures), attached to the LEP and copied to the DCP. Council is currently working to update the list of heritage items for the entire shire and the community should be asked to comment when the Draft LEP is put on Exhibition.
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