Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 19367–22308

received.

Under sections 324S and 341S of the EPBC Act, the Environment Minister seeks comment from the public on the replacement of management plans prepared for National and Commonwealth Heritage places, and seeks and considers comments from the Australian Heritage Council about matters raised by the public. A revised draft of the plan was placed on public exhibition and made available for public comment between 21 July 2012 and 24 August 2012. The final version incorporates amendments made in response to the nine submissions received during that period. The draft replacement plan and summary of public submissions were provided to the Australian Heritage Council's December 2012 meeting. The Council made no additional comments and determined that the management plan addresses the matters prescribed by the EPBC Regulations.

1.1.3 Overarching Conservation Philosophy

The overarching conservation philosophy in managing the Mawson's Huts Historic Site is to protect and conserve the listed heritage values of the site, while allowing the fabric of the site to continue to represent both a moment in time and the passage of time. The passage of time has affected the fabric of the buildings in differing ways depending on their origin and manufacture. As such, this management plan adopts differing approaches towards the conservation of intact structures and standing ruins at the site, as discussed in section 1.1.5. Conservation of the buildings and artefacts should accommodate the original imperfections in design and condition of their elements while demonstrating the effect of decades of exposure to the Antarctic environment.

The design of the huts at Cape Denison is a reflection of the vernacular in Australian domestic architecture of the time. They were never intended to be more than a temporary shelter for a single expedition. Our overall objective is to maintain them in their unperfected state and not reverse or overly interfere with the original condition or structure of the buildings or the associated objects. Future management of the site will be dependent on what is prudent and feasible, taking into consideration the financial and logistical restraints at the time.

1.1.4 Objectives

The Australian Government's objectives for the site are encapsulated in the conservation principles of this plan, which outline how the National and Commonwealth Heritage values and other values of the Mawson's Huts Historic Site should be identified, protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to all generations. Actions described in the Implementation Plan (Section 3.4) will be measured to assess how these objectives were met when the plan is next reviewed.

At Cape Denison, this involves managing access to and activities at the site, and ensuring that there is an appropriate program of works to conserve, protect and present the heritage values of the historic buildings, associated cultural heritage