Kiama Council has appointed GML Heritage to undertake the Kiama Town Centre Heritage Review, as part of the implementation of the Kiama Town Centre Study (KTCS).

“The firm is one of Australia’s most respected heritage consultancies, and winner of the 2020 Consult Australia Client Choice Awards for Best Heritage Consulting Firm,” says Ed Paterson, Council’s Manager Strategic Planning.

The consultants have been tasked with:

• considering outcomes of the KTCS and identifying other potential heritage items and/or areas
• providing additional justification for items and/or areas already listed and for other items to be listed (i.e. updating heritage inventory sheets)
• creating the Civic Precinct Heritage Conservation Area, around Manning and Terralong Street
• updating Heritage Development Controls, contained in the Kiama Development Control Plan (DCP), in collaboration with urban designer/planning consultant undertaking the Kiama Town Centre Development Control Review
• identifying potential Heritage Conservation Incentives.

“Council has been working with members of the Kiama Historical Society to identify items and areas that should be investigated as part of this review,” says Mr Paterson.

“GML Heritage undertook preliminary inspections of these areas last week and met with the Historical Society.”

66 Collins St, Kiama

As part of these preliminary inspections, the consultants inspected 66 Collins Street, currently covered by an Interim Heritage Order.

A Heritage Assessment for this property is due to be submitted to Council in October.

The Final Report of the Heritage Review is due to be submitted by the end of the year.

“It is anticipated the necessary amendments to the Kiama Local Environmental Plan and the DCP will be reported to the February 2021 Council Meeting, to begin the public exhibition of these draft documents,” says Mr Paterson.