Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01868:reg:2021:p17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01868
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2021 (pt 17/55)
Character Range: 615686–618739

The complexity of the fabric, collections and associations of heritage value at Old Parliament House means that careful and informed decisions need to be made in the planning and carrying out of all conservation works and activities. A formal assessment process for all decisions about actions, works and activities is set out in Policy 2 and established in the assessment process in Section 7 of the Heritage Management Plan.

  The policy also deals with business continuity, disaster management, the appropriate management of tenants and other contractual arrangements and the implementation of other relevant legislation, such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and codes, such as the Building Code of Australia.

  Conservation activities need to be adequately resourced, using a risk-based analysis to assist in establishing priorities.

Conclusion
Policy 2 establishes a cross-organisational committee to make decisions and recommendations about Action Proposals and provides a framework for making decisions about heritage management in Old Parliament House. It also provides direction for disaster-preparedness planning and business continuity.

  Background paper for Policy 3: Documentation and monitoring

  Old Parliament House management must establish and maintain systems for monitoring, evaluating, documenting and reporting on the management of the condition of the place and its heritage values, and maintain an effective response system to address any identified decline in condition.

  Rationale for the policy

  This policy responds to the need for documentation of the accountable and transparent decision making required under the EPBC Act. Unlike other policy areas, the need for formal monitoring of the condition of the identified heritage values of the place is a new requirement that has arisen from the heritage amendments made to the EPBC Act which came into effect in 2004. As no established method exists for this form of monitoring, Old Parliament House is developing an innovative method to fulfil this requirement. As this method is experimental, it is therefore important that it too be evaluated in terms of its effectiveness and improved accordingly.

  This policy places a new emphasis on the need for conducting monitoring and evaluation in all areas of conservation and heritage management at Old Parliament House. In particular, it stresses the requirement for the results of monitoring and evaluation to be fed back into the Heritage Management Plan, to ensure that it is improved and has the ability to recognise and address developing trends. The maintenance of the 'feedback loop' between monitoring, evaluation and the management system relies, in particular, on the participation of well-informed staff who understand the role of monitoring in the continuous improvement of the Heritage Management Plan, rather than approach it as a compliance checklist.

Conclusion
Policy 3 establishes the requirements for monitoring, evaluating and documenting the implementation of the Heritage Management