Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p425
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 1351101–1354065

for social, cultural or spiritual reasons';  and
      * there is evidence that it is also of 'outstanding heritage value to the nation'.

Establishing that a value is 'outstanding' can be established in part by comparison with other broadly comparable places, or a finding that elements of a place are unique.

Guidelines designed to assist in the interpretation and application of each of the National Heritage criteria were released in 2009 (Australian Heritage Council).

In terms of assessing social values, the definition of three terms – strong, special and association in the guidelines is of particular importance:
      * strong is defined as meaning of 'great force, effectiveness, potency or cogency, and firm or unfaltering under trial' (Macquarie Dictionary 4th Edition 2005);
      * special is defined as of a distinct or particular character, distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual – extraordinary, exceptional, especial (Macquarie Dictionary 4th Edition 2005);  and
      * association means associated with or connected with (Macquarie Dictionary 4th Edition 2005).

In terms of the phrase 'particular' community or cultural group the guidelines suggest that particular refers to a specific or definable or identifiable community or cultural group.  Community or cultural group has been defined to mean a group or body of people that share characteristics such as social organisation and locality (eg. a locality and its community), culture (ethnicity, culture, beliefs, traditions), or spiritual values.  In the assessment of social significance, the sharing of deeply felt experiences and activities can also create a community (eg. a group of people who train for and experience war service together;  people who work closely together, etc).  However, the guidelines are clear that a group of people who only share 'common expertise' – for example a professional group or special interest group – would not usually constitute a community or cultural group.

Threshold tests are applied to each criterion.  For social significance, the threshold tests include:
      * that it is people within a particular community or cultural group that collectively have the strong or special associations;
      * that the community or cultural group is clearly identifiable (ie. particular);
      * that there is clear evidence that the community or cultural group has a connection – a strong or special association – with the place;  and
      * the connection or association is enduring and that there is a deep sense of ownership or connectedness.

Generally the expectation is that the association is evident today, although the guidelines note that in some cases significant former associations by past communities or cultural groups may meet the threshold.
To be of 'outstanding heritage value to the nation' it is generally expected that:
      * community recognition will usually be beyond the region or state (note that this