Policy 7 Decision making process for worPolicy 7 Decision making process for works or actions

Policy 7 Decision making process for works or actions

The Library should ensure that it has an effective and consistent decision-making process for works or actions affecting the place which takes full account of its heritage significance. All such decisions should be suitably documented and these records kept for future reference.

Implementation strategies

7.1 The process will involve:

early consultation with internal and external stakeholders relevant to the particular decision;
an understanding of the specific heritage values affected, the original and subsequent character, and later changes to the area involved;
documentation of the proposed use or operational requirements justifying the works or action; and
identification of relevant statutory obligations and steps undertaken to ensure compliance.

The sensitivity to change guidelines provided in Section 6.4 below may prove helpful to the decision-making process.

7.2 The Library will consider maintaining a log of decisions with cross-referencing to relevant documentation.

7.3 Where some work is not able to be undertaken because of resource constraints, work will be re-prioritised according to the following criteria to enable highest priority work to be undertaken within the available resources. Prioritising work to heritage components or elements will be decided on the basis of:

in general terms, the descending order of priority for work will be maintenance, restoration, reconstruction, adaptation and new work, where such work is appropriate. However, this priority order may be influenced by conditions attached to funding (eg. government decisions may tie funding to particular works);
work related to alleviating a high level of threat to significant aspects, or poor condition will be given the highest priority followed by work related to medium threat/moderate condition then low threat/good condition; and
the level of threat/condition will be considered in conjunction with the degree of significance (for example aspects in poor condition and of moderate significance might be given a higher priority compared to aspects of moderate condition and high significance).

7.4 If a conflict arises between the achievement of different objectives, the process for resolving this conflict will involve:

reference to the conflict resolution process outlined in the Library’s Heritage Strategy;
implementation of a decision-making process in accordance with Policy 7;
compliance with the Burra Charter;
possibly involving heritage conservation experts in accordance with Policy 6;
possibly seeking the advice of the Department of the Environment and Energy; and
possibly seeking advice from the Minister consistent with the normal provisions of the EPBC Act.